THE WILLIAM BARRET TRAVIS MEDAL

HAS BEEN AWARDED TO

CHRIS GRESHAM

FOR

HIS ACTIONS, CONDUCT AND ACHIEVEMENT DURING THE PERIOD OF

SEPTEMBER 2000 to SEPTEMBER 2001

After being suspended from his high school for wearing a shirt bearing the Mississippi state flag, under the auspices that the battle flag emblem on the flag was racist, Chris Gresham refused to submit to the double standard application of the Cypress Creek High School dress code.  Having been singled out for discriminatory punishment after expressing his pride in his Southern heritage, Chris returned to school wearing another Southern Heritage shirt displaying the Confederate Battle Flag.  This time, the local press was notified and was on hand to document the school’s actions.  The actions of Chris, and the High School, got wide coverage for several days.  On no less than three occasions, Chris wore Confederate Heritage shirts, challenging the school’s practice of selectively applying their dress code, and brought to public awareness the hypocrisy of the school administration’s enforcement of the dress code.  Under duress from peers and administration officials, Chris maintained his stand and his composure, using the opportunity to speak out and show that a person can be proud of their Southern heritage and not be a racist.  The fallout was that other students dared to show their Southern pride by wearing shirts with Battle Flags on them, and the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is facing a lawsuit for discriminatory practices against Southern Americans.  Chris’ actions reflect great credit on himself, his family and the South.