| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The life of a legendary University of Texas football |
|
|
player drew to a close with the passing of Bobby Lee Lackey of |
|
|
Weslaco on September 2, 2021, at the age of 83; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Bobby Lackey was born on October 14, 1937, to |
|
|
Charles and Rosie Lackey; he grew up in Weslaco, where he was an |
|
|
all-state signal caller for the high school football team, leading |
|
|
the Panthers to the state semifinals in 1955; he was also all-state |
|
|
in basketball and excelled on the baseball diamond as well; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Continuing his gridiron career at The University of |
|
|
Texas at Austin, Mr. Lackey started at quarterback under head coach |
|
|
Darrell Royal; in 1958, he was the hero in a dramatic 15-14 victory |
|
|
over the University of Oklahoma, throwing the tying touchdown pass, |
|
|
kicking the go-ahead extra point, and sealing the outcome with an |
|
|
interception on the Sooners' final drive that snapped their |
|
|
six-game winning streak over UT; still in uniform after the game, he |
|
|
was photographed with his wife, the former Judy McManus, and the |
|
|
image later graced the cover of Sports Illustrated; the following |
|
|
season, he sparked UT to a share of the Southwest Conference crown; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1960, Mr. Lackey signed with the Pittsburgh |
|
|
Steelers, though he ultimately opted not to play professionally; he |
|
|
returned home to South Texas, where he and Mrs. Lackey began |
|
|
raising their family; he embarked on a business career, working for |
|
|
his father-in-law at the J. S. McManus Produce Company, which he |
|
|
eventually owned and operated; he also presided over the Texas |
|
|
Fruit and Vegetable Association, held a longtime seat on the |
|
|
Freeport-McMoRan board, and opened the Lackey-Fisher Chevrolet |
|
|
dealership with his brother Joe; he retired in 2001; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A prominent figure in the community, Mr. Lackey |
|
|
served on the Weslaco City Council and the Weslaco Independent |
|
|
School District board, which named its gymnasium and football |
|
|
stadium in his honor; he was recognized as the Man of the Year in |
|
|
Weslaco, and he was inducted into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor, |
|
|
the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame, and the Texas High School |
|
|
Football Hall of Fame; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Lackey shared a rewarding marriage |
|
|
that spanned 63 years until her death in 2020; Mr. Lackey took great |
|
|
pride in his children, John, Lissa, and Mindy, and in his 9 |
|
|
grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Bobby Lackey distinguished himself as a gifted |
|
|
athlete, an accomplished business and civic leader, and a devoted |
|
|
family man, and his achievements will be admired for many years to |
|
|
come; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|
|
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
|
|
of Bobby Lee Lackey and extend heartfelt sympathy to all who mourn |
|
|
his passing; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bobby |
|
|
Lackey. |