Senate committee hears resolution to rename Texas School for the Deaf gymnasium for alumnus Robert Reeves

The Senate Committee on Education laid out SCR 5 on a resolution authorizing the Texas School for the Deaf to rename its middle school gymnasium the Robert Reeves Gymnasium.

Senator Carol Eckhart, who laid out the resolution, told the committee Robert Reeves is an alumnus (class of 1887) who later taught at the school for 42 years and started its first football team. "This resolution authorizes the Texas School for the Deaf to rename its middle school gymnasium the Robert Reeves Gymnasium in honor of Robert Reeves' contributions to the school," Eckhart said.

Gabriel Cardenas, identified in committee as the Texas School for the Deaf’s Public Information Officer, appeared as a resource witness. Cardenas summarized the school’s support for the measure and offered to answer questions; no committee questions were recorded.

The chair called for invited and public testimony. Two named public witnesses (Susan Stewart and Calvin Tillman) were called but were not present. With no other witnesses present, the committee closed public testimony and left SCR 5 pending.

What happened next: SCR 5 was left pending for further consideration; no formal vote or amendment was recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: The resolution is ceremonial but recognizes historical ties between the School for the Deaf and an alumnus who returned as a long‑serving educator. The committee followed its standard practice of invited resource testimony and limited public testimony for this item.