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