H.R. No. 118 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, In 2015, Kilgore College is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its founding, and this occasion presents a fitting opportunity to honor this respected institution; and WHEREAS, After the 1930 East Texas oil boom led to a considerable population increase in the Kilgore area, civic and business leaders embarked on plans to establish a community college; opening in the fall of 1935, Kilgore College held classes for its inaugural 229-member student body at local public schools; and WHEREAS, Since its inception, this two-year junior college has served more than 150,000 students through a wide range of academic, continuing education, workforce development, and adult education programs; in addition to preparing university-bound students, the school offers training in such vocational fields as emergency medical response, nursing, law enforcement, and manufacturing technology; and WHEREAS, Kilgore College operates a main campus in the city of Kilgore as well as an extension center in Longview, which serves an annual enrollment of about 5,000 students; ably led by its president, Dr. William Holda, Kilgore College is also home to the East Texas Oil Museum, an agriculture demonstration farm, and a number of cultural and athletic programs, including the well-known drill team, the Rangerettes; and WHEREAS, Over the past eight decades, Kilgore College has provided students with important opportunities in higher education, and in so doing, it has enriched the lives of countless Texans; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of Kilgore College and extend to its students, faculty, and staff sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Kilgore College as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Clardy Simpson ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 118 was adopted by the House on February 19, 2015, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House