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