By Merritt                                             H.R. No. 248

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Longview High School Lady Lobos basketball team

 1-2     will contend for the Class 5A State Basketball Championship from

 1-3     February 27, 1997, to March 1, 1997, and the team's participation

 1-4     in this event truly merits praise and recognition; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The Lady Lobos, Class 5A Region II Basketball

 1-6     Champions, travel to our State Capitol with a 32-2 record this year

 1-7     and an 18-year legacy of basketball excellence; under the

 1-8     leadership of Head Coach Tommy Aldridge, the Longview girl's

 1-9     basketball program has amassed an impressive record that includes

1-10     17 consecutive state playoff appearances, 16 district

1-11     championships, 13 bi-district championships, 11 regional tournament

1-12     appearances, two final four appearances, and a state championship

1-13     in 1984; and

1-14           WHEREAS, Known in Longview for his aggressive coaching style,

1-15     concern for his players, and winning ways, Coach Aldridge has

1-16     compiled a career record of 577-72 during his 18-year tenure; the

1-17     Lady Lobos led the nation in wins during the 1980s by compiling a

1-18     330-33 record, and in 1984 Coach Aldridge was named Texas Class 5A

1-19     Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year; and

1-20           WHEREAS, One of the fundamental tenets of the Lady Lobos

1-21     program is the promotion of teamwork and cooperation, and the

 2-1     program relies heavily on these concepts and serves as excellent

 2-2     preparation for entering into the competitive workforce environment

 2-3     where these principles are of paramount importance; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, This year's Lady Lobos team includes Kristina

 2-5     Taylor, Jennifer Mathis, Meagan Leggett, Marcia Jackson, Ashley

 2-6     Huffman, Amanda Grubbs, Lamedka Pippins, Meredith Walker, Sarah

 2-7     Millwood, Shala Reese, Tanya Molett, Kelvona Thomas, and Laurie

 2-8     Spier; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, Coach Aldridge has been ably supported in his

2-10     efforts to create another state-championship-caliber team by

2-11     Assistant Coach Essie Faggett, Trainer Jimmy Kendrick, and Manager

2-12     J. R.  Walker, and the efforts of these individuals have helped

2-13     keep these talented and skillful young women focused on their goal;

2-14     and

2-15           WHEREAS, These exemplary athletes, as well as their coaches

2-16     and staff, are a tremendous source of pride for the students and

2-17     faculty of Longview High School and their many supporters in the

2-18     community, and this chamber is privileged to wish them well in all

2-19     their future endeavors; now, therefore, be it

2-20           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-21     Legislature hereby commend the Longview High School Lady Lobos

2-22     basketball team on the occasion of their appearance at the 1997

2-23     Class 5A State Championship Basketball Tournament in Austin; and,

2-24     be it further

2-25           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-1     prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas

 3-2     House of Representatives.