H.R. No. 472
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Phillis Wheatley High School in Houston is marking
its 90th anniversary in 2017; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1927 on Lyons Avenue in the historic
Fifth Ward, Wheatley High became one of the nation's largest
African American high schools during segregation, with an
enrollment of 2,600 and a faculty of 60; the growth of the student
population eventually caused the building to become so overcrowded
that youngsters had to attend classes in shifts; and
WHEREAS, A new facility was completed in 1949 on Market
Street, and the $2.5 million spent on its construction was the most
the district had allocated to a campus up to that time; described by
the Houston Chronicle as one of the finest black schools in the
South, it was designed by the architectural firm of MacKie and
Kamrath in a style reflecting the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright
and featured such amenities as a 1,500-seat auditorium, an
industrial arts facility, and a gymnasium and swimming pool; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, the mid-century building was replaced by a
splendid new structure designed by a Wheatley graduate, noted
architect Willie Cleveland Jordan Jr. of the Class of 1956; the
school's many other distinguished alumni include two members of the
U.S. Congress, Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland, as well as members
of the state legislature, professional athletes, local civic
leaders, an Ivy League university president, and musicians Arnett
Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, Lester Williams, and Joe Sample; and
WHEREAS, The school has benefited from the efforts of many
dedicated principals over the years, and that tradition is carried
on today by Dr. Shirley Rose-Gilliam; maintaining awareness of the
rich traditions of their alma mater, proud graduates are very
active in the Phillis Wheatley Metropolitan Alumni and Ex-Students
Association; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of nine decades, Phillis Wheatley
High has provided generations of young Texans with a strong
foundation on which to build, and in so doing, it has contributed
significantly to the vibrancy and prosperity of the Fifth Ward and
the greater Houston area; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the 90th
anniversary of Phillis Wheatley High School and extend to its
students, faculty, staff, and alumni sincere best wishes for
continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the school as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Dutton
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 472 was adopted by the House on August
15, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House