1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 600 1-3 WHEREAS, Avery Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs has achieved 1-4 outstanding athletic success in the sport of basketball, and he has 1-5 consistently sought to share his good fortune with the San Antonio 1-6 community; and 1-7 WHEREAS, After playing for both New Mexico Junior College 1-8 and Cameron University, Mr. Johnson took his talents to Southern 1-9 University, where his wizardry passing the basketball enabled him 1-10 to lead the National Collegiate Athletic Association in assists in 1-11 both his junior and senior seasons; he still holds several NCAA 1-12 records, including most assists in a single game, highest single 1-13 season assists average, and highest career assists average; and 1-14 WHEREAS, In spite of his superb college career, he was 1-15 overlooked in the NBA draft; he refused to give up on his dream of 1-16 competing at the highest level, and his hard work was eventually 1-17 rewarded when the Seattle Supersonics signed him as a free agent in 1-18 1988; and 1-19 WHEREAS, After stints in Seattle and Denver, Mr. Johnson 1-20 joined the San Antonio Spurs in 1991 and became a mainstay at the 1-21 point guard position during the 1992-1993 campaign, appearing in 1-22 75 regular season games and 10 playoff contests; and 1-23 WHEREAS, He spent the 1993-1994 season with the Golden State 2-1 Warriors, but returned to the Alamo City the next year and became 2-2 one of the team's most reliable and productive players, displaying 2-3 both amazing quickness with the ball and the ability to make good 2-4 decisions in the open court; and 2-5 WHEREAS, He has also become one of the most active and 2-6 enthusiastic participants in the Spurs Foundation, a nonprofit 2-7 organization dedicated to community service; in addition to making 2-8 numerous appearances in area schools and churches, he has given 2-9 freely of his time and energy by hosting a Christmas dinner for 2-10 hundreds of children each of the past two years, has overseen the 2-11 charitable works of the Avery Johnson Foundation, and together 2-12 with fellow Spur Vinny Del Negro has established The All-Star 2-13 Connection 4 San Antonio to aid local charities and schools; and 2-14 WHEREAS, He has been supported in all his endeavors by his 2-15 wife, Cassandra, whom he wed in New Orleans in 1991, and the couple 2-16 have since been blessed with two children, Christianne and Avery, 2-17 Jr.; and 2-18 WHEREAS, Truly a testament to the importance of faith and 2-19 dedication in achieving success, Avery Johnson has been an 2-20 inspiration to his teammates, the City of San Antonio, and 2-21 basketball fans across the country, and his remarkable generosity 2-22 off the court is equally worthy of special legislative 2-23 recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-24 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-25 75th Legislature, hereby honor Avery Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs 3-1 for his exceptional accomplishments in the sport of basketball 3-2 and commend him for his noteworthy community service; and, be 3-3 it further 3-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 3-5 prepared for Avery Johnson as an expression of highest regard by 3-6 the Texas Senate. 3-7 Madla 3-8 Wentworth 3-9 Luna 3-10 ______________________________________ 3-11 President of the Senate 3-12 I hereby certify that the above 3-13 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-14 on April 29, 1997. 3-15 ______________________________________ 3-16 Secretary of the Senate 3-17 ______________________________________ 3-18 Member, Texas Senate 3-19 ______________________________________ 3-20 Member, Texas Senate 3-21 ______________________________________ 3-22 Member, Texas Senate