By Price                                               H.R. No. 347
       74R7149 BNL-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The many friends and family of Clifton J. Ozen, Sr.,
    1-2  suffered a great loss with the passing of this beloved gentleman on
    1-3  February 13, 1995, at the age of 71; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, A native Texan and a lifelong resident of the
    1-5  Beaumont-Port Arthur area, Mr. Ozen was born in Port Arthur on June
    1-6  30, 1923; after graduating from Hebert High School in 1941, he
    1-7  continued his education at Texas College in Tyler and earned a
    1-8  bachelor of arts degree from that institution in 1949; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, He then returned to his high school alma mater to
   1-10  begin his long and distinguished career as an educator; for more
   1-11  than 25 years he served as both a teacher and a coach for Hebert
   1-12  High School, and during this time, he enrolled at Texas Southern
   1-13  University in Houston to pursue his master of arts degree, which he
   1-14  was awarded in 1962; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, Mr. Ozen later served as an assistant principal at
   1-16  Hebert High School and West Brook High School, where he worked
   1-17  tirelessly to prepare students for the challenges of the future;
   1-18  the principles of discipline and motivation that he sought to
   1-19  instill in students were drawn from his experience as a coach, and
   1-20  his exemplary coaching record stands as a testament to the
   1-21  soundness of his approach; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, In his 16-year tenure as head football coach for
   1-23  Hebert High School, he coached his team to a remarkable record of
   1-24  147 wins, 30 losses, and four ties; this outstanding coach also led
    2-1  the school to state championship titles in 1959 and 1966, and 10 of
    2-2  his athletes went on to play football at the professional level;
    2-3  and
    2-4        WHEREAS, Yet more important than the victories he accrued
    2-5  were the students whose lives were changed by his guidance and
    2-6  inspiration, and in his 36 years in the field of education, Clifton
    2-7  J.  Ozen undoubtedly made a profound impact on countless students
    2-8  and players; his dedication and leadership can never be replaced,
    2-9  but his unique spirit will live on in the hearts of the many people
   2-10  whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be it
   2-11        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-12  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Clifton J. Ozen, Sr.,
   2-13  and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
   2-14  wife, Eloise Ozen; to his daughters and sons-in-law, Janice and
   2-15  Leroy Beck, Judy and Jesse Harrison, and Brenda McCoy; to his sons
   2-16  and daughters-in-law, Clifton "Kip" Ozen, Oneal Ozen, Joseph
   2-17  "Coach" Simpson, Linda Ozen, and Brenda Ozen; to his sister,
   2-18  Victoria Crawford; to his grandchildren, Shawn, Leroy, Sharla,
   2-19  LaToya, Tanika, Mesha, Jermaine, Charmaine, Christopher, Kelli,
   2-20  Jessica, Tina, and Stacy; to his great-grandchildren, Devin and
   2-21  Diamonde; and to his aunts, Adlene Tibbs and Gertie Cross; and, be
   2-22  it further
   2-23        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-24  prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
   2-25  House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
   2-26  Clifton J.  Ozen, Sr.