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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Phillis Wheatley High School in Houston is marking |
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its 90th anniversary in 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1927 on Lyons Avenue in the historic |
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Fifth Ward, Wheatley High became one of the nation's largest |
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African American high schools during segregation, with an |
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enrollment of 2,600 and a faculty of 60; the growth of the student |
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population eventually caused the building to become so overcrowded |
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that youngsters had to attend classes in shifts; and |
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WHEREAS, A new facility was completed in 1949 on Market |
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Street, and the $2.5 million spent on its construction was the most |
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the district had allocated to a campus up to that time; described by |
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the Houston Chronicle as one of the finest black schools in the |
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South, it was designed by the architectural firm of MacKie and |
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Kamrath in a style reflecting the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright |
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and featured such amenities as a 1,500-seat auditorium, an |
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industrial arts facility, and a gymnasium and swimming pool; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2006, the mid-century building was replaced by a |
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splendid new structure designed by a Wheatley graduate, noted |
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architect Willie Cleveland Jordan Jr. of the Class of 1956; the |
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school's many other distinguished alumni include two members of the |
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U.S. Congress, Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland, as well as members |
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of the state legislature, professional athletes, local civic |
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leaders, an Ivy League university president, and musicians Arnett |
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Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, Lester Williams, and Joe Sample; and |
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WHEREAS, The school has benefited from the efforts of many |
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dedicated principals over the years, and that tradition is carried |
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on today by Dr. Shirley Rose-Gilliam; maintaining awareness of the |
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rich traditions of their alma mater, proud graduates are very |
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active in the Phillis Wheatley Metropolitan Alumni and Ex-Students |
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Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of nine decades, Phillis Wheatley |
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High has provided generations of young Texans with a strong |
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foundation on which to build, and in so doing, it has contributed |
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significantly to the vibrancy and prosperity of the Fifth Ward and |
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the greater Houston area; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the 90th |
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anniversary of Phillis Wheatley High School and extend to its |
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students, faculty, staff, and alumni sincere best wishes for |
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continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the school as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Dutton |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 472 was adopted by the House on August |
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15, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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