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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, An official Texas Historical Marker honoring the |
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proud history of George Washington Carver High School in Baytown is |
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being dedicated at a ceremony on April 30, 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, The culmination of a joint effort between the |
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Baytown Carver High School Recognition and Preservation Society and |
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the Harris County Historical Commission, the marker will allow |
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visitors to learn more about the school's vital role in the |
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education of African American children in Baytown; and |
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WHEREAS, George Washington Carver High School traces its |
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origins to the first public African American elementary school in |
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the area, which was founded in 1921 and moved to a site at Carver and |
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Oak Streets in 1924; the school was expanded to include students |
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through the ninth grade in 1927 and was later named for the |
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well-known scientist, educator, and inventor George Washington |
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Carver; and |
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WHEREAS, The campus became a four-year high school in 1941 |
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and moved into a new building four blocks away in 1948; the students |
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of Carver High excelled at both academics and extracurricular |
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activities, earning their alma mater distinction as one of the top |
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African American high schools in the state; through the years, the |
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school won nine state band competitions and eight state sports |
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championships sanctioned by the Prairie View Interscholastic |
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League; and |
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WHEREAS, The high school was closed in 1967 when the Baytown |
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schools were desegregated; the building served as the home of |
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George Washington Carver Elementary School until 1995 and was |
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demolished in 2002, though a new Carver Elementary was opened |
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nearby, carrying the school's name and its tradition of educational |
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excellence into the 21st century; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of its history, George Washington |
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Carver High School figured prominently in the lives of many Baytown |
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youth, and the dedication of this historical marker provides a |
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fitting tribute to the essential role it played in educating |
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several generations of city residents; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the establishment of a Texas |
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Historical Marker on the site of George Washington Carver High |
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School in Baytown and commend all those responsible for their |
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efforts to bring this worthwhile initiative to fruition; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for the Baytown Carver High School Recognition and Preservation |
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Society and the Harris County Historical Commission as expressions |
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of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |