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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the sorrow felt by |
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the family, friends, colleagues, and players of Lewis Daniel |
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Hill Sr., the head coach of The University of Texas Rio Grande |
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Valley men's basketball team, who passed away on February 7, 2021, |
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at the age of 55; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Gary and Annie Hill, Lew Hill was born in |
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Clinton, North Carolina, on April 11, 1965, and grew up in Mount |
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Vernon, New York, with a brother, Emory; an exceptional athlete, he |
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was an all-state basketball player at Mount Vernon High School and |
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an All-American for San Jacinto College in 1983 and 1984, helping |
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the Ravens to win a national championship; he went on to earn |
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All-Missouri Valley Conference honors at Wichita State University, |
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where he earned a criminal justice degree; he then competed |
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professionally for one year in Germany before returning to Kansas |
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to coach the team at Wichita East High School; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1990, Mr. Hill began his collegiate coaching |
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career as an assistant at the University of South Alabama, followed |
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by tenures at Southeast Missouri State and East Carolina |
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Universities; after serving as an assistant and associate head |
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coach at Texas A&M, he worked as an assistant at the University of |
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Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Oklahoma; and |
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WHEREAS, On March 31, 2016, Coach Hill took the reins of the |
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men's basketball program at The University of Texas Rio Grande |
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Valley; his leadership and expertise quickly transformed the team, |
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and during his second year, he led the Vaqueros to their first |
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postseason appearance in 37 years; UTRGV collected its debut |
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postseason win as an NCAA Division I program in the subsequent |
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2018-2019 campaign, and he was named a finalist for the Ben Jobe |
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Award, which recognizes the top minority coach in Division I men's |
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basketball; in 2020, his players won 8 of 10 games down the stretch |
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and claimed the No. 2 seed at the Western Athletic Conference |
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Tournament, the highest ranking in school history; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Coach Hill enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, Franchetta Renee; he was the devoted father |
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of five children, Lewis, Sierra, Erica, Asya, and Elle, and he took |
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great pride in his six grandchildren, Joshua, Shaniya, Johnathan, |
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Ayden, Aria, and Denim; known for his charismatic personality, he |
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was a trusted friend and colleague to many and had a talent for |
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making others feel special; and |
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WHEREAS, Earning the lasting respect of his players and his |
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peers, Lew Hill made a positive difference in the lives of countless |
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people, and his contributions to UTRGV athletics will be |
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appreciated for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Lewis Daniel |
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Hill Sr. and extend deepest condolences to all who mourn his |
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passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Lew Hill. |