By: Bivins S.R. No. 40 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 In Memory 1-3 of 1-4 W. L. "Putt" Powell 1-5 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins with the 1-6 family, many friends, and thousands of readers of the 1-7 Amarillo Globe-News in mourning the death of W. L. "Putt" Powell 1-8 on December 24, 1992, at the age of 80; and 1-9 WHEREAS, The varied and notable achievements of this renowned 1-10 newspaperman contributed greatly to the development of high-quality 1-11 sports writing in this country; and 1-12 WHEREAS, A sports writer for more than 62 years, he began 1-13 his illustrious career while he was still attending Amarillo High 1-14 School; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Mr. Powell was instrumental in establishing the 1-16 Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame, and he helped organize the Texas 1-17 High School Football Hall of Fame; and 1-18 WHEREAS, "Putt" Powell and four other writers organized 1-19 the Texas Sports Writers Association in 1944, and later Mr. Powell 1-20 established the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce awards, which go to 1-21 the outstanding high school athletes in six sports each year; and 1-22 WHEREAS, The respected newspaperman was well known throughout 1-23 the country, gaining the respect of coaches such as Barry Switzer, 2-1 Grant Teaff, Henry Iba, and others by striving for accuracy, not 2-2 popularity; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Mr. Powell's career was filled with honors; he was 2-4 awarded the Texas High School Coaches Association Distinguished 2-5 Service Award in 1978, only the second sports writer to be so 2-6 honored; in 1989, he received the Dick Risenhoover Award sponsored 2-7 by the Downtown Amarillo Lions; in May, 1992, he was presented a 2-8 Paul Harris Fellow by the Amarillo West Rotary Club for a lifetime 2-9 career of newspaper service, and when he received the award, the 2-10 club donated $1,000 to the Rotary International Foundation in his 2-11 name; and 2-12 WHEREAS, "Putt" Powell was instrumental in establishing the 2-13 Blair Cherry Memorial Award, which annually recognizes outstanding 2-14 football players from each of the high schools in the Amarillo 2-15 Independent School District; and 2-16 WHEREAS, A dedicated, diligent, and sincere sports writer, 2-17 "Putt" Powell has left a lasting standard for others in his field 2-18 to follow; his death leaves a void in the lives of untold numbers 2-19 of readers; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-21 73rd Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the members 2-22 of his family: his wife, Frances Asbury Powell; his daughters, 2-23 Frances Ann Hirsch, Becky Estes, and Karen Miller; his sons, 2-24 Jimi W. Wright and David Powell; and his eight grandchildren; and, 2-25 be it further 3-1 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-2 the members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from 3-3 the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do 3-4 so in memory of W. L. "Putt" Powell. 3-5 _____________________________________ 3-6 President of the Senate 3-7 I hereby certify that the 3-8 above Resolution was adopted by 3-9 the Senate on January 14, 1993, 3-10 by a rising vote. 3-11 _____________________________________ 3-12 Secretary of the Senate 3-13 _____________________________________ 3-14 Member, Texas Senate