H.R. No. 1524
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. William Charles Akins, an esteemed educator and
a central figure in the integration of Austin schools, passed away
on March 29, 2017, at the age of 84; and
WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of East Austin, Charles Akins
was born on November 9, 1932, to Elmer and Mattie Lee Akins; after
graduating from the original L. C. Anderson High School in 1950, he
received a bachelor's degree from Huston-Tillotson College in 1954;
he later obtained a master's degree from Prairie View A&M
University and an administrative certification from Southwest
Texas State University; in 1982, he was awarded an honorary
doctorate of humane letters from Huston-Tillotson; and
WHEREAS, Charles Akins began his career in 1956 at Booker T.
Washington High School in Marlin, teaching history, civics, and
economics; he went on to join the faculty of his alma mater, L. C.
Anderson, in 1959, and just three years later, he was named Teacher
of the Year; and
WHEREAS, In 1964, the effort to integrate the Austin
Independent School District began in earnest, and Dr. Akins was
selected as the first African American teacher in the newly
desegregated Johnston High School, where he taught social studies,
sponsored the Boys Service Club, and earned promotion to Dean of
Boys; he returned to L. C. Anderson to serve as assistant principal
in 1969, but when the school was closed following a court
desegregation order, he transferred to Lanier High; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Akins became the first principal of the new
L. C. Anderson High School, which opened its doors in 1973;
presiding over a diverse student body, he viewed the success of his
tenure as vital to the cause of integration, and he worked hard to
ensure fairness and harmony whenever challenges arose; he served
nine years in that role and led the school to excellence in
academics, performing arts, and other areas before accepting a
promotion to assistant superintendent and later to associate
superintendent for community relations; and
WHEREAS, Acknowledging Dr. Akins's significant
contributions in the field of education, the Austin ISD board voted
in 1998 to rename the district's newest high school in his honor,
and W. Charles Akins High opened in 2000, the same year that
Dr. Akins concluded his 44 years of service to Texas
schoolchildren; in his retirement, he remained active in the local
school system, giving generously of his time and expertise to the
boards of the Region 13 Education Service Center, the UIL
Foundation, and other organizations; his civic involvement also
included serving as president of the Capital City Lions Club and as
chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and holding
membership on several local bond issue committees; and
WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, Dr. Akins enjoyed a rewarding
marriage with his wife, Estella, whom he had met as a student at
Huston-Tillotson, and he was further blessed with two daughters,
Dianne and Joyce, and two grandchildren, Justin and Rena; he loved
taking his family on cross-country trips to visit relatives in
California as well as on vacations to historical sites; sustained
by a deep faith, he was a valued congregant of Wesley United
Methodist Church and served as a delegate to the General and
Jurisdictional Conferences for the United Methodist Church; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Akins was a man of quiet strength and
exceptional character, traits that made him a beacon of inspiration
during a pivotal time in the history of Austin, and he leaves behind
a legacy that will resonate long into the future; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. William Charles
Akins and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns on this day, it do so in memory of
Dr. Charles Akins.
Hinojosa
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1524 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 4, 2017.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House