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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize best-selling author and decorated National Football |
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League coach Tony Dungy, who led the Indianapolis Colts to |
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victory in Super Bowl XLI; and |
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WHEREAS, Anthony Kevin Dungy was born on October 6, 1955, |
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in Jackson, Michigan; he graduated from Parkside High School in |
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1973 and attended the University of Minnesota, where he played as |
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the quarterback of the football team and was selected as the |
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team's most valuable player in 1975 and 1976; the following year, |
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Tony was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor for demonstrating |
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extraordinary athleticism and academic excellence; and |
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WHEREAS, Tony began his career as a professional football |
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player when he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free |
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agent; after playing in the National Football League for three |
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seasons and winning a championship ring in 1978 with the Steelers |
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in Super Bowl XIII, Tony began his coaching career in assistant |
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coaching positions with the Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and |
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Minnesota Vikings; and |
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WHEREAS, The youngest assistant coach and coordinator in |
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league history, Tony soon gained a reputation for transforming |
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losing teams into competitive teams; his vision and |
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understanding of defensive strategy paved the way to his success |
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as a head coach; it led to him being the first NFL head coach to |
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defeat all 32 NFL teams and to becoming the most successful head |
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coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the franchise's history; and |
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WHEREAS, Tony continued making football history when he |
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led the Indianapolis Colts to Super Bowl victory on February 4, |
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2007, the first African American head coach to lead a team to |
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Super Bowl glory; Tony also became the first head coach whose |
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teams made the playoffs for 10 consecutive years, and he was |
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inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016; he retired |
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from coaching in 2009 and now serves as a sports analyst; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his remarkable achievements in the |
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domain of sports, Tony is a New York Times best-selling author |
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whose books include Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, |
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and Priorities of a Winning Life; Uncommon: Finding Your Path to |
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Significance; and The Mentor Leader; in 2007, President George W. |
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Bush appointed Tony to the President's Council on Service and |
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Civic Participation, and in 2009, President Barack Obama invited |
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him to join the Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighboring |
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Partnerships; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted Christian with a generous spirit, Tony |
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has selflessly given of his time and talents to benefit numerous |
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worthy organizations and serves as national spokesman for All Pro |
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Dad, the fatherhood program of Family First; he and his wife, |
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Lauren, are loving parents to their children, whom they have |
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taught to face the challenges of life with courage and strength; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby commend Coach Tony Dungy on his many |
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outstanding achievements and positive contributions to the Lone |
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Star State and to the sport of football and extend to him best |
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wishes in all his future endeavors; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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him as an expression of high esteem from the Texas Senate. |