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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends |
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of esteemed educator William T. Bryant, Jr., of Arlington, who |
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passed away on November 18, 2011, at the age of 78; and |
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WHEREAS, Bill Bryant was born on August 27, 1933, in Graham, |
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the only child of William Truman and Margaret Slay Bryant; after |
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graduating in 1952 from Graham High School, where he played the |
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trumpet in the school band, he earned a business education degree |
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from North Texas State University in 1956; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Bryant served his country in the United States |
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Army for two years and spent an additional two years in the Army |
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Reserve; while working at General Dynamics, he decided to become a |
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teacher and began attending night school at Texas Wesleyan |
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University in order to earn a master's degree in education; and |
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WHEREAS, Bill Bryant embarked on his new career in the early |
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1960s, when he accepted a position at George C. Clarke Elementary |
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School in Fort Worth; in 1966, while moonlighting as an adult basic |
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education instructor, he met Margie Ferguson, another Fort Worth |
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teacher, and the two were married on June 30, 1968; two years later |
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they moved to Arlington, where Mr. Bryant joined the staff of Hill |
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Elementary as a teacher and as an assistant principal; promoted to |
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principal and transferred to Speer Elementary in 1971, he remained |
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at that campus for 11 years; he subsequently served as principal of |
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Swift Elementary until his retirement in 1992; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Mr. Bryant enjoyed |
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collaborating with teachers and parents to ensure that his school's |
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students received the best possible education, and in 1993, he and |
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his wife were recognized by the Arlington Independent School |
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District with the naming of an elementary school in their honor; and |
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WHEREAS, A longtime congregant and deacon at First Baptist |
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Church Arlington, Mr. Bryant was also a member of the Arlington |
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Retired School Employees Association and a master Mason in the |
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Young County lodge for more than half a century; his concern for |
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others, his sense of humor, and his honesty and trustworthiness won |
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him a host of friends and admirers; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his profession, Bill Bryant made a |
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positive impact on countless lives, and he will forever be held |
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close in the hearts of those fortunate to have shared in his love |
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and friendship; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of William T. Bryant, |
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Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to his wife of 43 years, Margie |
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Ferguson Bryant, and to his other relatives and many friends; and, |
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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 William |
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T. Bryant, Jr. |