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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Lanier Byrd of San Antonio, an esteemed educator |
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and friend to many, passed away on August 29, 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, A 1966 graduate of St. Philip's College, Lanier Byrd |
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went on to earn both bachelor's and master's degrees in |
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biology/chemistry from Prairie View A&M University; he began his |
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career in 1969 at Sidney Lanier High School in San Antonio, where he |
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taught biology and physics and coached the girls' volleyball team; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Byrd joined the faculty of St. Philip's College |
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in the early 1970s as a biology instructor; he was granted tenure |
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and promoted to the role of professor, and he provided strong |
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guidance to the Department of Natural Sciences during his tenure as |
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chair of the department; he continued to pursue his own education as |
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well, and in 1995 he obtained a doctoral degree in science education |
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from The University of Texas at Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, From 1996 to 2007, Dr. Byrd served St. Philip's as |
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vice president of academic affairs; challenged to meet the demands |
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of a rapidly growing enrollment, he helped the college earn one of |
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the highest site review ratings ever accorded a community college |
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by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, with 28 of the |
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school's technical programs being rated as "exemplary" and three of |
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the arts and sciences programs identified as "outstanding"; the |
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capstone of his many contributions to St. Philip's was his creation |
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of the Lanier Byrd Endowed Scholarship, which helps lower-income |
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students receive an education; and |
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WHEREAS, Greatly admired for his energy and dedication both |
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inside and outside of the classroom, Lanier Byrd made a positive |
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difference in the lives of countless people, and he has left behind |
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a legacy that will continue to resonate for many years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. Lanier Byrd and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Dr. Deborah Byrd; to his children, Shanna, Sean, and Sharanay; and |
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to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Lanier |
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Byrd. |