By Moreno H.R. No. 486
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 Texas House of Representatives 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 1,000 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 Texas Western College in 1961, he had already established himself
1-14 as an outstanding basketball coach among his colleagues; and
1-15 WHEREAS, Over the next 35 years Coach Haskins led the Miners
1-16 to seven Western Athletic Conference championships and 14 National
1-17 Collegiate Athletic Association appearances; and
1-18 WHEREAS, The seventh all-time winning coach in National
1-19 Collegiate Athletic Association history, Don Haskins was the first
1-20 coach to win a national championship with five starters who were
1-21 African American; and
2-1 WHEREAS, In 1966, his team won the National Collegiate
2-2 Athletic Association title game over the heavily favored Kentucky
2-3 Wildcats by a score of 72-65; and
2-4 WHEREAS, Throughout his notable career, Coach Haskins has
2-5 been supported by the love and devotion of his wife, Mary, and
2-6 their children; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Coach Haskins has become an icon who has a passion
2-8 for coaching, winning, coyote hunting, and entertaining who allows
2-9 the spotlight to shine on his players, the school, and the city,
2-10 but never on himself; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Coach Haskins exemplifies the best in collegiate
2-12 athletics, and he is a credit to his school, his city, and his
2-13 state; his contributions to college basketball have added
2-14 immeasurably to the sport for the players, their coaches, and their
2-15 fans; now, therefore, be it
2-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th
2-17 Legislature hereby commend and applaud Coach Don Haskins on his
2-18 selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame with best wishes for
2-19 continued success in the years ahead; and, be it further
2-20 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the
2-21 distinguished gentleman as an expression of the esteem of the Texas
2-22 Legislature.