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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud students, teachers, and community members are |
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gathering to celebrate the designation of Robert E. Lee High School |
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in Baytown as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark with a marker |
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dedication ceremony on April 27, 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Awarded by the Texas Historical Commission, the RTHL |
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designation recognizes the historical and architectural |
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significance of the Robert E. Lee High School building, which |
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opened in 1928; originally the only high school in what is now the |
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Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District, Robert E. Lee |
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initially served an area whose population had swelled after the |
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discovery of the Goose Creek Oil Field in 1908; when it was |
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established, the school was centrally located in order to serve |
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Baytown, Goose Creek, Pelly, and Wooster, and over the years it |
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helped to create a sense of community among local residents by |
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hosting numerous civic events; in addition, Lee Junior College held |
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classes on the campus from 1934 to 1951; and |
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WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee students have excelled at both |
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academics and athletics throughout the school's history and have |
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gone on to contribute to society in myriad fields of endeavor; among |
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the alumni of the school are the actor Gary Busey, football player |
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Charles Godfrey, and basketball player and coach Clayton Shields; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A distinctive structure in the art deco style, Lee |
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High School was designed by Harry D. Payne, a well-known Houston |
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architect; the building incorporates such elegant touches as a |
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stucco facade, terra cotta roof tiles, and brick-trimmed niches |
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with urns; after a devastating fire in 1987, area citizens came |
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together and ensured that the school was restored to its original |
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appearance; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than eight decades, Robert E. Lee High |
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School has made a vital contribution to the surrounding community, |
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and it is indeed fitting that this integral part of the area's |
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history be appropriately recognized; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of a Recorded Texas |
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Historic Landmark plaque at Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown and |
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extend to the event's organizers and their guests sincere best |
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wishes for a meaningful and memorable event; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Robert E. Lee High School as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |