SLS 17RS-480 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 65
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Bossier High School on its Centennial celebration.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend and congratulate the students, faculty, administrators, and alumni of Bossier
3 High School on the occasion of its Centennial celebration and to pay tribute to the
4 accomplishments of its many graduates.
5 WHEREAS, Bossier High School, BHS, has produced an eclectic class of graduates
6 throughout its one hundred years of academic excellence and its alumni have made
7 remarkable contributions to the enrichment of the community, state, and nation; and
8 WHEREAS, on Saturday, May 13, 2017, members of the BHS Bearkat Nation shall
9 gather together to recollect their shared experiences, revisit the past glories of classmates and
10 friends, and rekindle the meaning of the BHS Crest - Truth, Honor, Wisdom; and
11 WHEREAS, BHS holds a wealth of historic significance in the annals of Bossier
12 Parish as its oldest high school; chartered in 1917, the first site, located on Traffic Street,
13 now houses Bossier Elementary School; the first BHS graduating class consisted of five
14 female students; and
15 WHEREAS, the present structure was designed by Shreveport architect, Sam Wiener,
16 and opened in 1940; the facade is an example of the architectural style known as
17 "International Design"; the building has been recognized as a historic preservation property
18 and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places; and
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1 WHEREAS, throughout its lengthy history, BHS has developed traditions that have
2 withstood the test of time; such benchmarks as, the Bossier Bear Facts school newspaper
3 began in 1939; the Les Memoires yearbook was first published in 1945; the school flag of
4 kelly green and white embossed with a Bearkat and the BHS motto was designed in 1962;
5 football began in 1926; the first letter jacket was issued in 1934; and the Bossier Invitational
6 Basketball Tournament began in 1940 and remains the longest running competition of its
7 kind in Northwest Louisiana; and
8 WHEREAS, the Bearcat mascot was selected in 1926, however the spelling was later
9 changed to "Bearkat" to discern Bossier High athletics from the Ruston High Bearcats; and
10 WHEREAS, the music and lyrics to the BHS Alma Mater were written by a student,
11 Robert D. Young, in 1938; Like a wave, a mighty city surging round our feet, guide us, train
12 us, teach us wisdom, alma mater, sweet. Forward, forward, Bossier High School time and
13 tide may fail, but our hearts will ever love thee Alma Mater, hail!; and
14 WHEREAS, in 1925, the school colors of kelly green and white were adopted and
15 the faithful alumni axiom of "always bleed green"; and
16 WHEREAS, the overall objective of this extraordinary academic institution remains
17 the same; "the mission of Bossier High School, in partnership with parents and community,
18 is to foster the development of an environment that will facilitate learning for all students,
19 promote self-esteem and respect for others, and launch learners on a quest for high
20 standards, all of which will lead them to be self-sufficient adults"; and
21 WHEREAS, a comprehensive academic curricula supported by a superior faculty has
22 produced exceptional student achievement with standout performances in student testing as
23 well as band competition, debate, literary rallies, National Honor Society, AFJROTC, and
24 choir, and spirited extracurricular activities have energized the school year with athletics and
25 team sports, homecoming, yearbook, and commencement ceremonies; and
26 WHEREAS, the Bearkat Nation is a composite of a thriving student body and alumni
27 from all over the world; the "Barksdale Kids" is the moniker proudly shared by students
28 from military families who have made BHS a part of their learning experience and their
29 presence adds a welcome diversity and interest to the school's ecology; and
30 WHEREAS, in its first one hundred years, BHS has matriculated thousands of
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1 graduates who have moved forward into city, state, national, and worldwide venues and have
2 made positive contributions in every spectrum of society; and
3 WHEREAS, scores of BHS alumni have reached the pinnacle in their professions and
4 include in their number, a presidential candidate, college chancellor, district attorney, NASA
5 space flight educator, Grammy-nominated songwriter, director of brain surgery at Harvard
6 Medical School, president of the National Organization for Women, president of the national
7 Jaycees, an Olympian, and numerous professional athletes; and
8 WHEREAS, the tenets of learning and leadership instilled at BHS challenge students
9 to excel and provide the necessary training for future careers as elected officials, first
10 responders, scientists, educators, businessmen, medical professionals, authors, military
11 service personnel, and energetic citizens at work in the Ark-La-Tex region; and
12 WHEREAS, many former students have "returned to the school" as teachers,
13 coaches, administrators, and school board members; and
14 WHEREAS, the Honorable Charles E. "Buddy" Roemer, governor of Louisiana and
15 United States Congressman, was valedictorian of the Class of 1960 and was inducted into
16 the BHS Alumni Association Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement; and the Honorable
17 Foster L. Campbell served for twenty-six years in the Senate of Louisiana and presently
18 serves on the Public Service Commission; and
19 WHEREAS, the BHS Alumni Association was formed in 2005 to foster connectivity
20 between all former students, to promote continued interest in BHS activities, to honor the
21 community service of its members with the Medal of Merit award, and to provide financial
22 support and scholarships as reward for exceptional academic performance; and
23 WHEREAS, donations of treasured mementos that include band uniforms, letterman
24 sweaters, yearbooks, and other memorabilia are on exhibit at the Bossier Parish Library
25 Historical Center until the end of the year; and
26 WHEREAS, today's student body has forged its own impressive list of successful
27 pathways and graduates are recognized for their commitment to pursue military careers; and
28 WHEREAS, military service has always been an integral part of BHS and that
29 commitment is reflected in AFJROTC participation, veteran honors, and heartfelt memorials
30 that recognize fallen classmates who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United
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1 States of America; and
2 WHEREAS, demands of a changing world affect the content of curricula and the
3 utility of classroom space; ten computer labs are readily available on campus; and
4 WHEREAS, David Thrash, the 2011 Louisiana High School Principal of the Year,
5 begins his thirty-fifth year in education and upholds the legacy of BHS with the motto for
6 this centennial year, "Game on, We got this!"; and
7 WHEREAS, all Bearkats alumni are invited to celebrate on Saturday, May 13, 2017,
8 at the Bossier Civic Center with a slate of activities, food and music venues, and an antique
9 car show and BHS alumni are encouraged to actively participate in the year-long celebration
10 of one hundred years of Bossier High School Pride.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
12 commend the students, faculty, administrators, and alumni of Bossier High School on the
13 occasion of its Centennial celebration.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby pay
15 tribute to the accomplishments of the Bearkat Nation of Bossier High School Alumni.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
17 David W. Thrash, principal of Bossier High School and Carolyn Grimsley, president of the
18 Bossier High School Alumni Association.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 65 Original 2017 Regular Session Peacock
Commends Bossier High School on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.
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