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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Jim Richardson will be retiring on August 1, 2017, |
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after 34 years of service as headmaster of Dallas Academy, and this |
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provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on his long and |
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distinguished tenure at the helm of that institution; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1983, Mr. Richardson was appointed as the sixth |
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headmaster of Dallas Academy, bringing to the campus a vision for |
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growth and a genuine commitment to promoting educational excellence |
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for students with learning differences; under his leadership, the |
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school quickly established an athletic program and began offering a |
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variety of student extracurricular activities, and its enrollment |
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steadily grew, surpassing 100 in 1992; and |
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WHEREAS, The increased number of students required expanded |
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facilities, and Mr. Richardson's leadership was key to the many |
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changes that took place at the school in the late 1990s and early |
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2000s; a gymnasium was added in 1997, and after additional land was |
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purchased and the academy merged with the Lattner School, a |
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beautiful new addition was dedicated in 2008 that included a |
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library, cafeteria, and multiple learning labs; today, the campus |
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accommodates a student body that numbers approximately 200; and |
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WHEREAS, While guiding the development of Dallas Academy, |
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Mr. Richardson has had the joy of watching its students, many of |
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whom had struggled in public schools, gain newfound confidence and |
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achieve success in their course work and activities; during his |
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tenure, the academy's football team won its first state title, its |
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yearbook, The Legend, received national recognition, and |
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performing arts students staged the first annual holiday musical; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born and raised in Wichita Falls, Jim Richardson was |
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inspired to pursue his calling after witnessing the compassion and |
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commitment of his mother, who taught students with special needs; |
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he worked as a teacher and administrator at Skyline High School from |
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1975 to 1983 before being recruited as headmaster of Dallas |
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Academy; retirement will afford him the opportunity to spend more |
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time with his treasured family, which includes his wife, Meg, his |
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daughter, Meghan, his son-in-law, Ken, and his three grandsons; and |
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WHEREAS, Revered for his passion and enthusiasm, Jim |
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Richardson has made a transformative impact through his work as |
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headmaster that will shape the future of Dallas Academy for years to |
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come, and he departs from his post with the admiration of his |
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colleagues and the gratitude of countless students and families; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Jim Richardson on his retirement as |
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headmaster of Dallas Academy and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Richardson as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Bohac |
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Villalba |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2625 was adopted by the House on May |
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28, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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