| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, An outstanding Texas educator, Dr. Lanier Byrd, |
|
|
reached an important milestone in his life with his retirement from |
|
|
St. Philip's College in San Antonio on May 11, 2007, after 35 years |
|
|
of service to that historic institution; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A 1966 graduate of St. Philip's, Dr. Byrd received a |
|
|
bachelor's degree and a master's degree in biology/chemistry from |
|
|
Prairie View A&M University in 1969 and 1973, respectively, and |
|
|
earned a Ph.D. in science education from The University of Texas at |
|
|
Austin in 1995; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, After beginning his career at Sidney Lanier High |
|
|
School in San Antonio, where he taught biology and physics and |
|
|
coached the girls' volleyball team from 1969 to 1972, Dr. Byrd |
|
|
joined the faculty of St. Philip's College as a biology instructor; |
|
|
granted tenure in 1978 and promoted to professor in 1984, he |
|
|
provided strong guidance to the Department of Natural Sciences |
|
|
during a highly successful stint as departmental chair; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, From 1996 to 2007, Dr. Byrd served the college as |
|
|
vice president of academic affairs; challenged to meet the demands |
|
|
of a rapidly growing enrollment, he helped the college earn one of |
|
|
the highest site review ratings ever accorded a community college |
|
|
by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, with 28 of the |
|
|
school's technical programs being rated as "exemplary" and three of |
|
|
the arts and sciences programs identified as "outstanding"; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The capstone of Dr. Byrd's many contributions to the |
|
|
college was his creation of the Lanier Byrd Endowed Scholarship, |
|
|
which is designed to help lower-income students receive an |
|
|
education at St. Philip's; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Lanier Byrd's energy, dedication, and |
|
|
commitment to excellence greatly benefited the students, faculty, |
|
|
and staff of St. Philip's College, and he may indeed reflect with |
|
|
pride on a career well spent; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Lanier Byrd on his retirement |
|
|
from St. Philip's College and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
|
|
continued fulfillment; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Dr. Byrd as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |