Special to The Leader

 AUSTIN, Tex. – The American Legion, Department of Texas, today announced that Spencer Johns of Little Cypress – Mauriceville High School has graduated from American Legion Boys State, Department of Texas, better known simply as Texas Boys State. During the week, Johns was elected as a state senator and to be a county delegate.

Begun in 1935, Boys State is a unique program that educates future leaders about government, civics, and patriotism in a “learn by doing” environment. Each delegate has just finished his junior year of high school and was hand-picked by teachers, counselors, and local American Legion posts throughout Texas to attend this one week seminar.

During the week, the delegates were evenly split into fictional parties of the Nationalist and Federalists. Each party drafted party platforms, elected party officials, nominated candidates via primary elections, and contested a general election against the rival party and its candidates. The delegates ran for many kinds of offices including state, district, county, and city offices. Those elected to the House of Representatives and Senate spent the week drafting, debating, and passing bills on a wide range of social and economic issues.

This year the delegates heard from more than 40 distinguished guest speakers, ranging from Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and State Board of Education member Tom Maynard, to several state legislators and former San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza.

On Thursday, June 15, Texas Boys State enjoyed a parade from the University of Texas at Austin campus to the Texas State Capitol, where they toured the building and dropped in on their hometown representatives’ offices.

For more information on Boys State, visit www.TexasBoysState.com.