SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 563
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize Texas State Technical College on the occasion of its
50th anniversary and to join citizens from across the state in
celebrating April 22, 2015, as Texas State Technical College Day
at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, This unique educational institution was created
by the 59th Texas Legislature, and the original legislation that
created the school was signed into law by Governor John Connally
on April 22, 1965; and
WHEREAS, The James Connally Technical Institute of Texas
A&M University was intended from the start to be, in the words of
Governor Connally, "the most sophisticated technical-vocational
institute in the country"; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of its first director,
Dr. Roy Dugger, the institute opened its first campus at the
former James Connally Air Force Base in Waco, and in 1967, it
opened a bilingual technical institute at the former Harlingen
Air Force Base; and
WHEREAS, The James Connally Technical Institute was made
independent of Texas A&M University in 1969 and renamed the Texas
State Technical Institute; over the next two decades, the success
of the school led to the creation of additional campuses in
Amarillo, Sweetwater, McAllen, Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood,
and Marshall; and
WHEREAS, In 1991, the Texas Legislature elevated the
status of the campuses, designating them as two-year technical
colleges with a new name, Texas State Technical College, and in
2013, the funding method for the Texas State Technical College
System was placed on a "returned-value" basis, making it the
first college system in the nation whose funding depends entirely
on student success; in the years since that change, Texas State
Technical College has seen a 23 percent increase in student
awards, and a 60 percent increase in first-year earnings for
graduates; and
WHEREAS, Today, working in close collaboration with
industry, government agencies, and other institutions of higher
learning, the 11 locations of the Texas State Technical College
System across the Lone Star State offer vocational students 124
associate degrees and 133 certificate programs and prepare
students for successful, well-paying careers by maintaining a
focus on excellence in technical education; and
WHEREAS, During its first half-century, the Texas State
Technical College System has produced nearly 100,000 graduates
and has truly lived up to the vision of its founders by becoming
one of the most sophisticated technical and vocational
institutions in the nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
Legislature, hereby designate April 22, 2015, as Texas State
Technical College Day at the State Capitol and extend to the
college's administration, staff, and students sincere best wishes
for a memorable 50th anniversary celebration; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
Texas State Technical College as a memento of this special day.
Birdwell
Eltife Kolkhorst Perry Eltife Kolkhorst Perry
Eltife Kolkhorst Perry
Fraser Lucio Schwertner Fraser Lucio Schwertner
Fraser Lucio Schwertner
Huffman Zaffirini Huffman Zaffirini
Huffman Zaffirini
Patrick, President of the Senate
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on April 14, 2015.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate
Eltife Kolkhorst Perry
Fraser Lucio Schwertner
Huffman Zaffirini