H.R. No. 1375
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Van Zandt County Historical Commission and the
citizens of Van are celebrating the dedication of a Texas
Historical Marker honoring Van High School on May 21, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Van High School was built in 1931 in response to the
rapid growth in population that occurred after oil was discovered
near Van in October 1929; before the oil boom, Van was a quiet
farming community with one schoolhouse, the five-room Van Common
School; at the beginning of the 1929-1930 school year, the Common
School had an enrollment of 90 pupils; by the next year, however,
the school was struggling to meet the demands of 611 students, and
it was clear to school and community officials that new schools
would have to be constructed; and
WHEREAS, The Van Independent School District was able to
pursue its ambitious expansion plans through voter approval of a
bond issue and with the support of oil revenues, including a $12,500
donation from the Pure Oil Company; by the summer of 1930, a new
gymnasium had been built, which served as a temporary high school;
construction started on a new high school and elementary school in
the spring of 1931; and
WHEREAS, Van High School opened at the beginning of the
1931-1932 school year; a state-of-the-art campus, it included the
new gym and a teachers' home, with an athletic park and a physical
education-vocational building being added within the next few
years; the school drew its water from the Pure Oil Company lines at
no charge, and the company also provided gas to heat the buildings;
money that continued to come in from the oil field allowed the
school district to pursue a second phase of campus expansion that
continued during World War II, and that was finished in 1947; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of eight decades, Van High School
has figured prominently in the history of Van, and recognition by
the Texas Historical Commission is a fitting tribute to the role it
has played in educating several generations of area residents; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of a Texas Historical
Marker at Van High School and that all those involved in securing
the historical marker be extended sincere appreciation; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Van Zandt County Historical Commission as an
expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Flynn
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1375 was adopted by the House on April
28, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House