By HunterH.R. No. 192
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Dr. William O. "Doc" Beazley will soon retire from his position as director of
Hardin-Simmons University's acclaimed Six White Horses program, drawing to a close a
remarkable career that has spanned nearly half a century; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Bridgewater College in Virginia, Dr. Beazley settled in the Lone
Star State, where he earned a master's degree in religious education and a doctorate in education
from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth; joining Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) in 1948
as an instructor of religious education, speech, and Bible, he quickly earned high regard for his
excellent teaching skills and his rapport with his students; and
WHEREAS, After leaving the university in the late 1950s to serve a brief tenure with the
Virginia Baptist Board of Missions and Education, this outstanding educator returned to HSU in
1960 as chairman of the department of religious education and director of institutional services;
currently a vice-president emeritus, he has successfully applied his broad range of teaching and
administrative experience to the variety of roles in which he has served over the years, including
director of admissions, athletic director, and executive vice-president; and
WHEREAS, Since the early 1960s, Dr. Beazley has headed the famous Six White Horses
program at HSU, an equestrian team that bears the six flags that have flown over Texas at events
throughout the country; under his able direction, the all-female riding group has appeared at such
prestigious occasions as the presidential inauguration of Richard M. Nixon, the Macy's
Thanksgiving Parade, and the inaugurations of Texas governors Dolph Briscoe, Mark White, and
George W. Bush; and
WHEREAS, The riders of the Six White Horses were named official Texas Ambassadors of
Goodwill by the Texas House of Representatives in 1995, and they have been awarded the
National Cowboy Symposium's Cowboy Culture Award for their role in preserving western
heritage; in recognition of Dr. Beazley's vast contributions to the Six White Horses program,
including authoring 10 books on the subject, the Beazley White Horse Center at
Hardin-Simmons University has been named in his honor; and
WHEREAS, Dr. William Beazley has devoted much of his life to the field of higher
education, and his dedication and enthusiasm have enriched the lives of countless young people;
his unique contributions to Hardin-Simmons University have helped to shape the leaders of
tomorrow, and in doing so, he has ensured that the future of Texas is in very capable hands; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas Legislature hereby
commend Dr. William O. "Doc" Beazley on the occasion of his retirement and extend to him
warmest best wishes for continued success and fulfillment in all his future endeavors; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Dr. Beazley as an
expression of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.