SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 257

WHEREAS, Weatherford College is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2019, providing a fitting opportunity to pay tribute to this fine institution's long record of achievement; and

WHEREAS, One of the oldest colleges in Texas, Weatherford College was established in 1869, before both Texas A&M University and The University of Texas; founded by the Phoenix Lodge No. 273 of the Masons, the school was originally known as the Weatherford Masonic Institute and later as Cleveland College; in the 1880s, the school was purchased by the Methodist Church and renamed Weatherford College; and

WHEREAS, Women were first admitted to Weatherford in 1917, and the school officially became a junior college in 1921; its association with the Methodist Church ended in 1949, when the school became a public institution; during the 1960s, Weatherford's student population began to outgrow the original building, called Old Main, and in 1968, the school was relocated to its current hilltop location; and

WHEREAS, Weatherford College today serves Parker, Palo Pinto, Hood, Jack, and Wise Counties, and it has educational centers in Mineral Wells and Granbury, as well as a campus between Decatur and Bridgeport; the school offers associate and associate of applied science degrees in a wide variety of subjects, including accounting, biology, liberal arts, music, premedicine, teacher education, business administration, criminal justice, fire science, information technology, and occupational therapy, among many others; and

WHEREAS, In January 2019, Weatherford College was named Educational Partner of the Year by Workforce Solutions of North Central Texas at the group's 22nd annual Awards of Excellence in Grand Prairie, and it was cited for its 35 training opportunities for occupations listed on the group's Target Occupations List; and

WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich heritage as they work to prepare for a bright future, the students, faculty, and staff of Weatherford College may indeed take great pride in their institution and its long history of educational excellence; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th Legislature, hereby commemorate the sesquicentennial of Weatherford College and extend to the members of the college community sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for Weatherford College as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

Fallon

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 25, 2019.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate