Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR637 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 637
2	2	In Memory
3	3	of
4	4	William Charles Akins
5	5	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the
6	6	citizens of Austin in mourning the loss of William Charles Akins,
7	7	a beloved member of the community, who died March 29, 2017, at the
8	8	age of 84; and
9	9	WHEREAS, A native of East Austin, Charles Akins was born on
10	10	November 9, 1932; he attended Blackshear Elementary School and
11	11	Kealing Junior High School, and he was a graduate of the original
12	12	L. C. Anderson High School on Pennsylvania Street; and
13	13	WHEREAS, Mr. Akins studied history and English at
14	14	Huston-Tillotson College and earned a bachelor's degree in 1954;
15	15	he later earned a master's degree from Prairie View A&M
16	16	University, and in 1982, Huston-Tillotson University awarded him
17	17	an honorary doctorate of humane letters; and
18	18	WHEREAS, Mr. Akins began his career as an educator in
19	19	Marlin, Texas, and he returned to Austin in 1959 to begin
20	20	teaching at L. C. Anderson High School on Thompson Street, where
21	21	he was named Teacher of the Year in 1962; when the Austin
22	22	Independent School District began the process of integrating
23	23	schools, he transferred to Johnston High School, where he served
24	24	as the first crossover teacher in the district; he served as
25	25	assistant principal at Anderson High School and at Lanier High
26	26	School, and he continued to play an instrumental role in the
27	27	district's desegregation initiatives; he spent his last nine
28	28	years of in-school service as principal of the new L. C. Anderson
29	29	High School on Mesa Drive, and he was promoted to the position of
30	30	assistant superintendant and later associate superintendent of
31	31	community relations for the district in 1994; and
32	32	WHEREAS, Mr. Akins retired after 44 years in education, and
33	33	he stayed connected to his field as a board member for the Region
34	34	13 Education Service Center and other educational organizations;
35	35	in 2000, the Austin Independent School District honored his
36	36	impressive career and legacy in the city with the opening of W.
37	37	Charles Akins High School; and
38	38	WHEREAS, Charles Akins was a distinguished civic leader
39	39	who received numerous awards over the years for his contributions
40	40	to his profession and his community; in addition to being a
41	41	pioneer in education, he also created inroads into media when he
42	42	became the first African American television sportscaster in
43	43	Austin at KLRU; and
44	44	WHEREAS, A man of deep spiritual devotion, he served the
45	45	Wesley United Methodist Church in numerous capacities, including
46	46	as a delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences for
47	47	the United Methodist Church; and
48	48	WHEREAS, Charles Akins was a devoted husband, father, and
49	49	grandfather and a treasured citizen of the Lone Star State, and
50	50	he leaves behind memories that will long be cherished by all who
51	51	were privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it
52	52	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
53	53	Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
54	54	family of William Charles Akins; and, be it further
55	55	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
56	56	his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
57	57	Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
58	58	memory of Charles Akins.
59	59	Watson
60	60	________________________________
61	61	President of the Senate
62	62	I hereby certify that the
63	63	above Resolution was adopted by
64	64	the Senate on April 18, 2017, by a
65	65	rising vote.
66	66	________________________________
67	67	Secretary of the Senate
68	68	________________________________
69	69	Member, Texas Senate