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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former students and staff of the G. B. Bennett |
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School in Buffalo are gathering together on June 17, 2017, for their |
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biennial reunion and banquet; and |
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WHEREAS, The G. B. Bennett School traces its roots back to |
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July 3, 1939, when the Buffalo Independent School District Board of |
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Trustees decided to apply to the Works Progress Administration for |
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funds to build a public school for local African American students; |
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construction began on a site secured from the Negro Baptist |
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Association, and the facility, named in honor of the Reverend G. B. |
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Bennett, pastor of New St. Holland Baptist Church, opened its doors |
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in 1942; following the integration of Buffalo ISD, the school was |
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permanently closed in 1969, after 27 years of operation; and |
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WHEREAS, The 2017 G. B. Bennett School alumni banquet offers |
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former Bulldogs a welcome opportunity to reflect on the knowledge |
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and skills they acquired as students, as well as on their fond |
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memories of Bennett's many extracurricular activities and events, |
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which included basketball games, May Day festivities, socials held |
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in the auditorium, and plays staged at the beginning and end of each |
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school year; and |
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WHEREAS, Receiving special recognition at this year's |
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reunion are the school's five surviving faculty members and staff: |
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fifth- and sixth-grade teacher Ralph Cormier; fourth- through |
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sixth-grade teacher Margaret Heggins; music teacher Bobbye |
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Bullock; homemaking and language arts teacher Birdene Perry; and |
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teacher's aide Lillie West; and |
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WHEREAS, During the nearly three decades that it was open, |
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the G. B. Bennett School gave numerous area youth a strong academic |
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foundation on which to build, and in so doing, it had a positive and |
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lasting impact on the Buffalo community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 2017 G. B. Bennett School |
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reunion and extend to all those in attendance sincere best wishes |
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for a meaningful and memorable event. |