S.R. No. 220
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 In Memory
1-3 of
1-4 M. A. Smith
1-5 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens
1-6 of Waco in mourning the loss of M. A. "Catfish" Smith who died
1-7 November 27, 1994; and
1-8 WHEREAS, A prominent sports figure, Catfish Smith was a
1-9 member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the East Texas State
1-10 Hall of Fame, the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame, and the Texas
1-11 Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Considered a living legend, Mr. Smith was famous
1-13 as a football and basketball player at East Texas State University
1-14 in the early 1930s; his true fame, however, came from being a man
1-15 who made champions out of others; and
1-16 WHEREAS, Only two years out of college, in the 1930s, he
1-17 led the youth of the small Carey High School basketball team to
1-18 the semifinals of the state tournament; the next year, Carey won
1-19 the state title even though all classifications of schools competed
1-20 with each other at that time; and
1-21 WHEREAS, During the 1940s, Catfish was the head football and
1-22 basketball coach at Mount Vernon High School; during his seven years
1-23 there, he accumulated a football record of 60-5-1 and a basketball
2-1 record of 163-17; at the same time, he became the only high school
2-2 coach in Texas history to produce undefeated teams in both football
2-3 and basketball; and
2-4 WHEREAS, Mount Vernon High School won six straight district
2-5 titles in football and one state and five regional titles in
2-6 basketball; and
2-7 WHEREAS, In 1951, he returned to his alma mater to coach
2-8 football; he lost two games that first season and then proceeded to
2-9 win 39 victories in a row; his three-year record at East Texas State
2-10 University was 30-2-1, and that included three Lone Star Conference
2-11 championships and two Tangerine Bowl bids; and
2-12 WHEREAS, He moved to Baylor in 1959, where he coached
2-13 freshman football until his retirement in 1984; Catfish was also
2-14 responsible for the promotions for the Baylor University athletic
2-15 department and led the Baylor Bears booster organization; and
2-16 WHEREAS, This illustrious gentleman was also active in civic
2-17 affairs; he served as Waco city councilman from 1973 through 1977
2-18 and was mayor in 1976; he was a member of the Central Texas Zoo
2-19 Board of Directors, the Executive Board of CETA, the Heart of
2-20 Texas Council of Governments, and the Board of Directors of the
2-21 Waco Airport; and
2-22 WHEREAS, A vital part of his community, Catfish Smith was also
2-23 a member of the Contributors Review Committee of Greater Waco and a
2-24 member of the Civil Service Commission; his achievements contributed
2-25 greatly to the development and progress of his city; and
3-1 WHEREAS, Catfish Smith's lasting legacy to his community is
3-2 immeasurable; his presence will be keenly missed; now, therefore,
3-3 be it
3-4 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-5 74th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to his
3-6 family: his wife, Nell Evans Smith; his son, Jimmy Smith; his
3-7 stepdaughters, Lya McNeill and Melissa Flaut; and his stepson,
3-8 Jay Scott Evans; and, be it further
3-9 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
3-10 members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the
3-11 Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so
3-12 in memory of M. A. "Catfish" Smith.
3-13 Sibley
3-14 Ratliff
3-15 Armbrister Henderson Patterson
3-16 Barrientos Leedom Rosson
3-17 Bivins Lucio Shapiro
3-18 Brown Luna Sims
3-19 Cain Madla Truan
3-20 Ellis Moncrief Turner
3-21 Gallegos Montford Wentworth
3-22 Galloway Nelson West
3-23 Harris Nixon Whitmire
3-24 Haywood Zaffirini
3-25 Bullock, President of the Senate
4-1 ______________________________________
4-2 President of the Senate
4-3 I hereby certify that the above
4-4 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
4-5 on February 20, 1995, by a rising vote.
4-6 ______________________________________
4-7 Secretary of the Senate
4-8 ______________________________________
4-9 Member, Texas Senate
4-10 ______________________________________
4-11 Member, Texas Senate