SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 946
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
  recognize the Van Independent School District on the occasion of
  the official Texas Historical Marker dedication ceremony in
  honor of Swindall School, Van Common School, and Van High School; and
         WHEREAS, The Texas Historical Commission honors those
  places and institutions that have had historical significance to
  the community and state; the Van Independent School District is
  now celebrating 131 years of continuous service in the field of
  education; and
         WHEREAS, In 1880, the area now known as Van consisted of
  scattered farm houses and a general store; recognizing the need
  for a school, George W. Swindall donated one acre for the
  establishment of a community school, which then came to bear his
  name, as did the community; the Van school district was
  officially established in 1903 and contained two schools,
  Swindall School and Spring Hill School; and
         WHEREAS, At the end of the 1915-1916 school year, Swindall
  and Spring Hill Schools were closed in order to establish a
  larger school that would be built between the two; in 1916, the
  two schools were consolidated to form Van Common School; the
  school opened with 95 students and four teachers; and
         WHEREAS, In 1929, the discovery of the Van Oil Field led to
  changes in the community, and the need for the expansion of area
  schools was clear; in the summer of 1930, a gymnasium was built
  and was used as a temporary high school, and after approval of a
  bond, a brick elementary school and a brick high school were
  ready for use at the start of the 1931-1932 school year; in 1935,
  Van High School was the first school in the county to have
  electric lights installed on its football field; later, during
  World War II, the school had a lookout station to document
  airplane flights over Van and offered a variety of classes to
  women and the oil workers in the community; another major
  building program for the schools was carried out during the war
  and completed in 1947; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
  Legislature, hereby extend congratulations to all who are a part
  of the Van Independent School District on the occasion of the
  official Texas Historical Marker dedication in honor of Swindall
  School, Van Common School, and Van High School; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
  honor of this ceremony and the Van Independent School District.
  Deuell
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on May 10, 2011.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate