SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 946
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize the Van Independent School District on the occasion of
the official Texas Historical Marker dedication ceremony in
honor of Swindall School, Van Common School, and Van High School; and
WHEREAS, The Texas Historical Commission honors those
places and institutions that have had historical significance to
the community and state; the Van Independent School District is
now celebrating 131 years of continuous service in the field of
education; and
WHEREAS, In 1880, the area now known as Van consisted of
scattered farm houses and a general store; recognizing the need
for a school, George W. Swindall donated one acre for the
establishment of a community school, which then came to bear his
name, as did the community; the Van school district was
officially established in 1903 and contained two schools,
Swindall School and Spring Hill School; and
WHEREAS, At the end of the 1915-1916 school year, Swindall
and Spring Hill Schools were closed in order to establish a
larger school that would be built between the two; in 1916, the
two schools were consolidated to form Van Common School; the
school opened with 95 students and four teachers; and
WHEREAS, In 1929, the discovery of the Van Oil Field led to
changes in the community, and the need for the expansion of area
schools was clear; in the summer of 1930, a gymnasium was built
and was used as a temporary high school, and after approval of a
bond, a brick elementary school and a brick high school were
ready for use at the start of the 1931-1932 school year; in 1935,
Van High School was the first school in the county to have
electric lights installed on its football field; later, during
World War II, the school had a lookout station to document
airplane flights over Van and offered a variety of classes to
women and the oil workers in the community; another major
building program for the schools was carried out during the war
and completed in 1947; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
Legislature, hereby extend congratulations to all who are a part
of the Van Independent School District on the occasion of the
official Texas Historical Marker dedication in honor of Swindall
School, Van Common School, and Van High School; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
honor of this ceremony and the Van Independent School District.
Deuell
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 10, 2011.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate