R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Woodlands' Grant Irons has distinguished himself 1-2 among his peers with his exemplary accomplishments both on and off 1-3 the playing field, and he is indeed deserving of special 1-4 legislative recognition; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Mr. Irons has been chosen from a field of talented 1-6 teenagers to receive two of the most prestigious honors awarded to 1-7 American high school scholar-athletes; on January 21, 1997, he will 1-8 accept the 18th Annual Dial Award in Scottsdale, Arizona, and on 1-9 February 23, 1997, this exceptional young man will receive the 1-10 Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Trophy in Washington, D.C.; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The Dial Award, which annually honors a male and a 1-12 female high school senior for athletic, academic, and civic 1-13 excellence, has previously been awarded to such sports luminaries 1-14 as Herschel Walker, Shannon Miller, and Tiger Woods; the Watkins 1-15 Trophy is presented each year to the country's premier 1-16 African-American male scholar-athlete and is sponsored by the 1-17 National Alliance of African American Athletes; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Mr. Irons is the product of a close-knit family that 1-19 boasts both an outstanding academic history and an impressive 1-20 football pedigree; his father, Gerald D. Irons, Sr., earned his 1-21 master of business administration degree from the University of 1-22 Chicago and played for 10 years with the National Football League, 1-23 and his mother, Myrna J. Irons, is a graduate of Tennessee State 1-24 University and is the president of family-owned NCP Telecom; his 2-1 eldest brother, Gerald, Jr., played football for the University of 2-2 Nebraska, and middle brother Jarrett was a team captain for the 2-3 University of Michigan Wolverines; and 2-4 WHEREAS, A versatile athlete, Mr. Irons is captain of The 2-5 Woodlands High School varsity football team, playing tight end and 2-6 inside linebacker, and he has led the team in tackles for the past 2-7 three seasons; his list of football-related accolades is long and 2-8 varied, and features mention in such publications as USA Today and 2-9 Sports Illustrated, both of which named him to their first-team 2-10 All-America lists; and 2-11 WHEREAS, An honors and advanced placement student, Mr. Irons 2-12 maintains a 3.875 grade point average while placing his academic 2-13 emphasis on the study of business and law; in addition, he serves 2-14 his fellow students as class president and was recently voted 2-15 homecoming king; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Grant Irons's successes have led to full scholarship 2-17 offers from virtually every Division I college in America, 2-18 including The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M 2-19 University, and this dynamic young man will no doubt go on to 2-20 further triumphs in all he endeavors to do; now, therefore, be it 2-21 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-22 Legislature hereby honor Grant Irons for his athletic and 2-23 scholastic achievements and extend to him sincere best wishes for 2-24 continued success and happiness in the future; and, be it further 3-1 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-2 prepared for Mr. Irons as an expression of highest regard by the 3-3 Texas House of Representatives. Williams _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 45 was adopted by the House on February 18, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House