Mirabeau B. Lamar Award of Excellence

Special to The Examiner

Trisha Harris of Navasota was presented the Mirabeau B. Lamar Award of Excellence Award by Navasota Masonic Lodge No. 299 A.F. & A.M. Monday, Oct. 10.

Harris, a retired teacher and librarian, currently serves on the Navasota ISD School Board of Trustees.

Mirabeau B. Lamar, who served as the second president of the Republic of Texas from 1838-1841, was a Freemason and is known by some as “The Father of Texas Education,” or “The Father of the Texas Public School System.” His work while President resulted in the passage of the first law mandating public education. Additionally, Lamar convinced the legislature to set aside 3 leagues, more than 13,000 acres of land for each Texas county, for the benefit of public schools, and an additional 50 leagues for the support of two universities. These land set-asides, along with the founding of the Texas State Library, laid the foundation for a statewide public school system in Texas.

The Lamar Award of Excellence was established in 1988, under the leadership of Grand Master Graham Childress. The Lamar Medal is awarded to students and educators in recognition of outstanding personal achievement.