H.R. No. 544

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Students, faculty, and members of the
	administration of Prairie View A&M University are visiting the
	State Capitol on February 25, 2013, and this occasion provides a
	fitting opportunity to pay tribute to the rich history and
	continuing achievements of this notable institution; and
	WHEREAS, Prairie View A&M University dates back to 1876, when
	the 15th Texas Legislature established a school known as the "Alta
	Vista Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored
	Youth" during Reconstruction; the first students enrolled in 1878,
	and a normal school for training teachers was created by the
	legislature the following year; the normal school and the
	agricultural and mechanical college were combined by the 20th
	Legislature in 1887; and
	WHEREAS, The institution expanded its curriculum to four
	years in 1900 and began offering intercollegiate athletics in 1904;
	the school won its first football game, against Wiley College, in
	1907; a cooperative extension program was added in 1914 and the Army
	Reserve Officer Training Corps followed in 1917; during the 1920s,
	the school introduced the first baccalaureate degrees and a school
	of nursing, took part in the organization of the Southwest Athletic
	Conference, and also started hosting a branch of the University
	Interscholastic League known as the Prairie View Interscholastic
	League, which existed until the late 1960s; and
	WHEREAS, In 1939, a graduate school was initiated at Prairie
	View; the school began a program for commissioning U.S. Army
	officers in 1944 and naval reserve officers in 1970; five
	commissioned officers from the school's army training corps have
	gone on to become three-star generals, and three officers from its
	navy training corps have gone on to become admirals; and
	WHEREAS, Voters approved a state constitutional amendment in
	1984 that recognized Prairie View A&M as a university of the first
	class and restructured the state's Permanent University Fund to
	include Prairie View as a beneficiary; in addition, the legislature
	established the Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and
	Culture at Prairie View in 1999; the school launched its first
	doctoral program, in juvenile justice, and has since added others
	in electrical engineering, juvenile forensic psychology, and
	education leadership; and
	WHEREAS, Now under the leadership of president Dr. George C.
	Wright, the university has an enrollment of over 8,000 students,
	including more than 2,000 graduate students; and
	WHEREAS, On March 11, 2013, Prairie View A&M will observe the
	137th anniversary of its founding; it has been providing its
	students with a solid foundation for achievement for more than a
	century, and in so doing, it has contributed immeasurably to the
	fascinating history and ongoing prosperity of the Lone Star State;
	now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
	Legislature hereby honor Prairie View A&M University on the
	occasion of its 137th anniversary and extend to the delegation
	visiting today sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable
	trip to the State Capitol; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for the university as an expression of high regard by the
	Texas House of Representatives.
	Bell
	Howard
	Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
	Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
	Alonzo Gooden Otto
	Alvarado Guerra Paddie
	Anchia Guillen Parker
	Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
	Ashby Harless Perez
	Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
	Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
	Bohac Herrero Pickett
	Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
	Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
	Branch Huberty Raney
	Burkett Hughes Ratliff
	Burnam Hunter Raymond
	Button Isaac Reynolds
	Callegari Johnson Riddle
	Canales Kacal Ritter
	Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
	Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
	Clardy King of Parker Rose
	Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
	Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
	Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
	Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
	Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
	Creighton Krause Simmons
	Crownover Kuempel Simpson
	Dale Larson Smith
	Darby Laubenberg Smithee
	Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
	J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
	S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
	Deshotel Longoria Strama
	Dukes Lozano Taylor
	Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
	Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
	Elkins Martinez Toth
	Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
	Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
	Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
	Farrar Miles Villalba
	Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
	Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morrison White
	Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
	Giddings Murphy Wu
	Goldman Naishtat Zedler
	Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 544 was adopted by the House on February
	25, 2013, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House