In Honor of Bill B. Passmore, The Father of Lake Highlands Education

IN HONOR OF BILL B. PASSMORE, THE FATHER OF LAKE HIGHLANDS EDUCATION -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 09, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. PETE SESSIONS
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2004

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the father of Lake Highlands Education, Bill B. Passmore. I am proud to represent the Lake Highlands community in the 32nd Congressional District of Texas, and Mr. Passmore's commitment to education in the community has been long and distinguished. Mr. Passmore is being honored this Sunday afternoon, June 13, 2004 for his career achievements, and I congratulate him and his family on a lifetime of accomplishments.

After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a BBA degree in 1949, he taught for two years in Angleton High School before moving to Dallas. Mr. Passmore resumed his teaching career at Richardson High School in the fall of 1952. He taught business subjects for two years before being named the Business Manager and assistant to Superintendent J.J. Pearce for the 1954-55 school year.

Mr. Passmore was selected in 1955 as the principal to open the first school in the Lake Highlands area: Lake Highlands Elementary School. He was later named as the third principal to serve the school in 1976. Named principal of Richardson High School in 1956, he remained in that capacity for nine years.

When the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) opened El Centro College as its first campus, Passmore was hired as the first of eight counselors for the college. During six years at El Centro, he left the counseling department to serve as Dean of the Evening School and later as the Associate Dean of Instruction. When the Richland College opened in 1972, he moved to the new campus to serve as Association Dean of Instruction until 1976 when he returned to the RISD as principal of Lake Highlands Elementary School.

In 1979, Mr. Passmore was again asked to serve as principal of a new school in the Lake Highlands area: Merriman Park Elementary. He retired from Merriman Park Elementary in 1989, and since that time has worked ten years for the University of North Texas on a part-time basis as a University Supervisor of Student Teachers.

During his professional career, Mr. Passmore earned his Master's Degree from the University of North Texas and some 36 hours of post-graduate credit from the University of Texas at Austin. He was a member of the Richardson Kiwanis Club for 12 years and served for one year as its president. He was a staff member or an administrator during the opening of seven new campuses in Angleton, Richardson, and DCCCD. Mr. Passmore's personal commitment to education and the Lake Highland's community have been exceptional for several decades, and I congratulate him for his lifetime of public service.

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