By: Seliger S.C.R. No. 2
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Governor T. M. Campbell signed a bill on March 31,
1909, for the establishment of a normal college west of the 100th
meridian; and
WHEREAS, Canyon was selected as the location for the new
normal college on September 3, 1909, and a 40-acre tract was trimmed
from the T-Anchor Ranch on November 4, 1909, as the site for the
college; and
WHEREAS, Ground was broken on February 17, 1910, for the
college's first building, and West Texas State Normal College
opened on September 20, 1910, with an enrollment of 232 students;
and
WHEREAS, On March 25, 1914, Old Main, the college's main
facility, burned to the ground, and President R. B. Cousins
declared, "If West Texas is nothing more than brick and mortar, it
ought to die"; and
WHEREAS, On March 26, 1914, classes at West Texas Normal
College were conducted in church buildings, the courthouse, and
vacant businesses across the city of Canyon; and
WHEREAS, West Texas Normal College has been known as West
Texas State Teachers College (1923-1949), West Texas State College
(1949-1963), West Texas State University (1963-1990), and West
Texas A&M University (1990 to present); and
WHEREAS, West Texas A&M University students have brought
recognition to the university and the State of Texas with eight
consecutive team triumphs at the National Reining Horse Association
National Championship, Students in Free Enterprise advancing to the
national level of competition for 13 consecutive years, and
students in broadcasting winning the regional crown for the 11th
consecutive year at the National Broadcasting Society Region 4
Convention and the 11th consecutive Model Chapter of the Year award
at the National NBS Student Electronic Media Competition; and
WHEREAS, The school's symphonic band has appeared 12 times at
the Texas Music Educators Association annual convention, making it
the only university band in the state of Texas to make a record
number of appearances at the annual event; and
WHEREAS, West Texas A&M University's student athletes have
competed successfully in National Collegiate Athletic Association
sports, in which the Lady Buff volleyball team has won three
national championships, the football team is 4-0 in bowl games and
has won four Lone Star Conference championships, and the Buff and
Lady Buff basketball teams are on track to defend their 2007 Lone
Star Conference titles; and
WHEREAS, West Texas A&M University has been instrumental in
the region's economic, social, and cultural development over the
past 100 years, with 50 percent of the working professionals living
in the Texas Panhandle having earned their degrees from West Texas
A&M University; and
WHEREAS, West Texas A&M University has provided educational
opportunities for more than 100,000 individuals over the past 100
years and has more than 35,000 alumni working and living in the
state of Texas; and
WHEREAS, West Texas A&M University has a full roster of
graduates who have taken leadership roles here in the state of Texas
and across the country including State Representative John Smithee,
First Lady of Texas Anita Perry, former AT&T Wireless chief
executive officer Stan Sigman, Mercury Morris of the Miami
Dolphins, former player and head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
Maurice Cheeks and Microsoft general manager for premier and
alliance support Joe Austin; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby commemorate the centennial of the establishment of West
Texas A&M University and commend the school's administrators,
faculty, staff, and students on their valuable contributions to the
State of Texas; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared in honor
of this special occasion.