By Gallego                                      H.C.R. No. 40

      75R3652 JHS-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Iraan High School Braves claimed the 1996 UIL

 1-2     Class 2A State Football Championship by defeating the Groveton High

 1-3     School Indians 14-7, and this accomplishment is certainly deserving

 1-4     of special legislative recognition; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, In a game highlighted by a stellar defensive effort

 1-6     and several clutch plays, Iraan High School overcame its underdog

 1-7     status to claim its first state football championship and finish

 1-8     the season with a perfect 16-0 record; the Braves led 14-0 after

 1-9     three quarters and then displayed their fortitude with a series of

1-10     defensive stands inside their own 10-yard line, allowing Groveton

1-11     just one touchdown; and

1-12           WHEREAS, The game's outcome was literally up in the air until

1-13     Iraan junior Robin Hanna picked off a desperation pass in the end

1-14     zone as time expired, securing the Braves' victory and sending the

1-15     team and its faithful fans into a spirited celebration; the Braves

1-16     also received outstanding play from seniors Billy Palmore, who had

1-17     two key interceptions, and Reinaldo Mendoza, who scored the team's

1-18     two touchdowns on short runs in the second and third quarters; and

1-19           WHEREAS, Dedication to excellence both individually and as a

1-20     team was a hallmark of the Braves, whose varsity team members

1-21     include Cody Emery, Brandon Ramsey, Ross Blackwelder, Robin Hanna,

1-22     Billy Palmore, Tim James, Patrick Smith, Michael Castaneda, Clint

1-23     Smithson, Reinaldo Mendoza, John Rodriguez, Juan Solis, Brian

1-24     Mecham, Derek Wright, Wesley Word, Jose Ibarra, Ryan Rylander,

 2-1     Daniel Foley, Hunter Lewis, Peter Lara, Rudy Galindo, Erik Wright,

 2-2     Luis Gallegos, Nathan Price, Jeremiah Medina, Jon Aishman, Victor

 2-3     Lopez, Eddie Evans, Felipe Bernal, Ricky Hill, Javier Hernandez,

 2-4     and Ben Brooks; valuable support was provided by the members of the

 2-5     junior varsity team, including Greg Gasser, Cade Schneeman, Drew

 2-6     Rylander, Tate McMullan, Rand Blackwelder, Juan Jaramillo, Travis

 2-7     Castaneda, Billy Frank Mendoza, Marc Levie, D. J. Villanueva,

 2-8     Osvaldo Dehoyas, Marco Ybarra, Billy Lopez, James Hurley, Mark

 2-9     Foley, David Brodbeck, Carlos Gallegos, David Vallejo, Brandon

2-10     Alldredge, Carter McFadden, Frank Petralba, B. J. Elkins, Dustin

2-11     Grigsby, and Gordon Smith; and

2-12           WHEREAS, Athletic Director and Head Coach Larry Hanna's

2-13     leadership and inspiration have helped to create a positive

2-14     football environment for the young men of Iraan High School, with

2-15     emphasis placed on academic achievement, good sportsmanship, and

2-16     team unity, and he was ably supported in this pursuit by assistant

2-17     coaches Henry Anderson, Randy Doege, Steve Harris, Gary Harvey,

2-18     Jerry Palmore, Joe Rivas, and Ted Sellers, and trainer Cary Tyson;

2-19     and

2-20           WHEREAS, This exemplary group of young men, as well as their

2-21     coaches and staff, are a tremendous source of pride for the

2-22     students and faculty of Iraan High School and their many supporters

2-23     in the community, and it is a privilege to honor them on the

2-24     occasion of their latest achievement; now, therefore, be it

2-25           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-26     hereby congratulate Head Coach Larry Hanna and the Iraan High

2-27     School Braves on winning the 1996 Class 2A State Football

 3-1     Championship and extend to them sincere best wishes for continued

 3-2     success and happiness in the future; and, be it further

 3-3           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-4     prepared for the members of the team and coaching staff as an

 3-5     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and

 3-6     Senate.