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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. William Charles Akins, an esteemed educator and |
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a central figure in the integration of Austin schools, passed away |
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on March 29, 2017, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of East Austin, Charles Akins |
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was born on November 9, 1932, to Elmer and Mattie Lee Akins; after |
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graduating from the original L. C. Anderson High School in 1950, he |
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received a bachelor's degree from Huston-Tillotson College in 1954; |
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he later obtained a master's degree from Prairie View A&M |
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University and an administrative certification from Southwest |
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Texas State University; in 1982, he was awarded an honorary |
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doctorate of humane letters from Huston-Tillotson; and |
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WHEREAS, Charles Akins began his career in 1956 at Booker T. |
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Washington High School in Marlin, teaching history, civics, and |
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economics; he went on to join the faculty of his alma mater, L. C. |
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Anderson, in 1959, and just three years later, he was named Teacher |
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of the Year; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1964, the effort to integrate the Austin |
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Independent School District began in earnest, and Dr. Akins was |
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selected as the first African American teacher in the newly |
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desegregated Johnston High School, where he taught social studies, |
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sponsored the Boys Service Club, and earned promotion to Dean of |
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Boys; he returned to L. C. Anderson to serve as assistant principal |
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in 1969, but when the school was closed following a court |
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desegregation order, he transferred to Lanier High; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Akins became the first principal of the new |
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L. C. Anderson High School, which opened its doors in 1973; |
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presiding over a diverse student body, he viewed the success of his |
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tenure as vital to the cause of integration, and he worked hard to |
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ensure fairness and harmony whenever challenges arose; he served |
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nine years in that role and led the school to excellence in |
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academics, performing arts, and other areas before accepting a |
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promotion to assistant superintendent and later to associate |
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superintendent for community relations; and |
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WHEREAS, Acknowledging Dr. Akins's significant |
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contributions in the field of education, the Austin ISD board voted |
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in 1998 to rename the district's newest high school in his honor, |
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and W. Charles Akins High opened in 2000, the same year that |
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Dr. Akins concluded his 44 years of service to Texas |
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schoolchildren; in his retirement, he remained active in the local |
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school system, giving generously of his time and expertise to the |
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boards of the Region 13 Education Service Center, the UIL |
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Foundation, and other organizations; his civic involvement also |
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included serving as president of the Capital City Lions Club and as |
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chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and holding |
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membership on several local bond issue committees; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, Dr. Akins enjoyed a rewarding |
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marriage with his wife, Estella, whom he had met as a student at |
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Huston-Tillotson, and he was further blessed with two daughters, |
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Dianne and Joyce, and two grandchildren, Justin and Rena; he loved |
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taking his family on cross-country trips to visit relatives in |
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California as well as on vacations to historical sites; sustained |
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by a deep faith, he was a valued congregant of Wesley United |
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Methodist Church and served as a delegate to the General and |
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Jurisdictional Conferences for the United Methodist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Akins was a man of quiet strength and |
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exceptional character, traits that made him a beacon of inspiration |
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during a pivotal time in the history of Austin, and he leaves behind |
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a legacy that will resonate long into the future; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. William Charles |
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Akins and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; |
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and, 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 on this day, it do so in memory of |
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Dr. Charles Akins. |
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Hinojosa |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1524 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 4, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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