H.R. No. 29
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Texas State University community is mourning the
loss of Dr. Elvin Holt, professor emeritus of English, who passed
away on September 18, 2023, at the age of 77; and
WHEREAS, The son of Naomi Holt Stredic and Aaron Stredic Sr.,
Elvin Holt was born in Bay City on September 25, 1945; he earned a
bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Prairie View A&M University,
a master's degree from Texas State, and a doctoral degree from the
University of Kentucky; after joining the Texas State faculty in
1983, he became the first tenured Black professor in the Department
of English; his research and writing focused on African and African
American literature, cultural studies, and folklore; while
instilling appreciation for once-undervalued works, he both
challenged and nurtured his students, winning multiple teaching
awards; he received three fellowships from the National Endowment
for the Humanities, and he was named the 1989 Professor of the Year
by the Association of Black Students; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Holt was coeditor of Acting Up and Getting Down:
Plays by African American Texans and coauthor of Stages of Struggle
and Celebration: A Production History of Black Theatre in Texas;
during his 37-year career, he developed and taught Honors College
courses and served the university on numerous committees; he also
shared his vast knowledge of San Marcos's Black community as a
member of such local organizations as the Heritage Association of
San Marcos, the San Marcos Historic Preservation Commission, the
Hays County Historical Commission, and the LBJ MLK Crossroads
Memorial committee; he was a founding member and the
longest-serving president of the Calaboose African American
History Museum; following his retirement from academia in 2020, he
remained active as an archivist; both a museum scholarship and a
street on the TXST Round Rock campus were named in his honor; and
WHEREAS, A trailblazing educator and inspiring mentor, Elvin
Holt will be deeply missed, but his legacy will continue to resonate
for years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of
Dr. Elvin Holt and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his
family: to his sisters, Flora Jackson, Nelda Stredic Jackson, and
Vivian Stredic; to his brother, Errol Stredic; and to his other
relatives and many friends; 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 this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Elvin
Holt.
Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 29 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on November 17, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House