By Moreno                                             H.C.R. No. 78

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas is pleased to

 1-2     extend congratulations to Don Haskins, longtime basketball coach of

 1-3     The University of Texas at El Paso, for the prestigious honor

 1-4     bestowed on him; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The highly regarded coach who has won a total of 687

 1-6     games and coached in over 1000 games in his phenomenal career at

 1-7     The University of Texas at El Paso was elected to the Basketball

 1-8     Hall of Fame recently; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, He began his remarkable career coaching the boys and

1-10     girls basketball teams at Benjamin High School in Benjamin, Texas,

1-11     where he led the boys squad to a 20-win season; and

1-12           WHEREAS, When Coach Haskins accepted the head coaching job at

1-13     The University of Texas at El Paso in 1961, he had already

1-14     established himself as an outstanding basketball coach among his

1-15     colleagues; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Over the next 35 years Coach Haskins led the Miners

1-17     to seven Western Athletic Conference championships and 14 National

1-18     Collegiate Athletic Association appearances; and

1-19           WHEREAS, The seventh all-time winning coach in National

1-20     Collegiate Athletic Association history, Don Haskins was the first

1-21     coach to win a national championship with five starters who were

 2-1     African American; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, In 1966, his team won the National Collegiate

 2-3     Athletic Association title game over the heavily favored Kentucky

 2-4     Wildcats by a score of 72-65; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Overcoming adversity in his personal life, the

 2-6     dedicated coach suffered a heart attack and had to undergo triple

 2-7     bypass surgery last year, but he rebounded to return to coaching

 2-8     and another successful season; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, Throughout his notable career, Coach Haskins has

2-10     been supported by the love and devotion of his wife, Mary, and

2-11     their children; they are the proud parents of three fine sons,

2-12     Brent, Steve, and David; and

2-13           WHEREAS, Coach Haskins has become an icon who has a passion

2-14     for coaching, winning, coyote hunting and entertaining who allows

2-15     the spotlight to shine on his players, the school, and the town but

2-16     never on himself; and

2-17           WHEREAS, Coach Haskins exemplifies the best in collegiate

2-18     athletics, and he is a credit to his school, his city, and his

2-19     state; his contributions to college basketball have added

2-20     immeasurably to the sport for the players, their coaches, and their

2-21     fans; now, therefore, be it

2-22           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-23     hereby commend and applaud Coach Don Haskins on his selection to

2-24     the Basketball Hall of Fame with best wishes for continued success

2-25     in the years ahead; and, be it further

 3-1           RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the

 3-2     distinguished gentleman as an expression of the esteem of the Texas

 3-3     Legislature.