88R19078 BK-D
By: Clardy H.R. No. 1078
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Margaret and Jim Perkins, longtime benefactors of
Stephen F. Austin State University, have been honored with the 2023
Texas Higher Education Distinguished Service Award; and
WHEREAS, Originally presented in 1977, the Texas Higher
Education Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals and
organizations who have made a profound impact on higher education
in Texas or who have significantly benefited the faculty, staff,
and students of an institution through their leadership, service,
or philanthropy; and
WHEREAS, Margaret and Jim Perkins have long been champions
for education, and their efforts over the past several decades have
touched the lives of thousands of students and families across the
state; Mr. Perkins' affiliation with Stephen F. Austin State
University has included two terms on the SFA Board of Regents from
1969 to 1981, during which time he served as chair of the board and
led the establishment of the SFA Foundation; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, the College of Education was renamed the
James I. Perkins College of Education, and it has continued to
thrive with the support of the couple; for 13 years, the Perkins
Professional Development Travel Fund has enabled faculty to make
more than 850 national and international trips to present their
research, and Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have also helped promote
excellence at the college through the establishment of the
Hoover-Perkins Professorship and through their funding of seven
awards within the Department of Education Studies; every year, the
couple hosts a reception for College of Education faculty to
acknowledge their dedicated service to their students, their
profession, and the university; and
WHEREAS, Beyond their extensive support for the College of
Education, Mr. and Mrs. Perkins provided a grant for the JacksTeach
program within the College of Sciences and Mathematics to help
students attain STEM teaching certifications; for two decades, they
have also served as lead partners in the Nacogdoches County Chamber
of Commerce's Nacogdoches Opportunity for Better Learning
Experience program, which awards scholarships to attend SFA to 20
area students each year; and
WHEREAS, Few can claim such an admirable record of leadership
and service to a university as Margaret and Jim Perkins, and they
may indeed reflect with pride on their many contributions to SFA;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Margaret and Jim Perkins on
receiving the 2023 Texas Higher Education Distinguished Service
Award and extend to them sincere best wishes for the future; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Perkins as an expression of high regard
by the Texas House of Representatives.