R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Ricky Williams of The University of Texas at Austin
1-2 has claimed college football's highest accolade, the Heisman
1-3 Trophy, and this well-deserved honor is an appropriate capstone to
1-4 his phenomenal career as a running back for the Texas Longhorns,
1-5 although his off-the-field efforts have proven equally important in
1-6 defining this caring and generous individual; and
1-7 WHEREAS, During his freshman and sophomore seasons,
1-8 Mr. Williams shared the rushing duties for the Longhorns with
1-9 talented teammates Shon Mitchell and Priest Holmes; nonetheless,
1-10 his astonishing combination of speed, quickness, strength, and
1-11 field awareness drew acclaim from football afficionados across the
1-12 nation; and
1-13 WHEREAS, Mr. Williams became the centerpiece of the Texas
1-14 offensive attack in his junior campaign and led Division 1-A in
1-15 both scoring and yards rushing for the 1997 season and was tabbed
1-16 as Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year; and
1-17 WHEREAS, Mr. Williams also won the Doak Walker Award in
1-18 1997, and after the ceremony he developed a deep friendship with
1-19 Mr. Walker, a former Heisman Trophy winner from Southern Methodist
1-20 University, who passed away early in the 1998 season; as a tribute
1-21 to his friend, Ricky Williams wore Walker's collegiate jersey
1-22 number "37" during the 1998 Texas-Oklahoma game at the Cotton Bowl
1-23 in Dallas, which is known as "the House That Doak Built"; and
1-24 WHEREAS, Forgoing the certainty of a multimillion dollar
2-1 contract with the NFL, Ricky returned for his senior season with
2-2 the Longhorns with the lofty goals of becoming the leading career
2-3 rusher in Division 1-A history and winning the Heisman Trophy; and
2-4 WHEREAS, Mr. Williams pursued Tony Dorsett's rushing record
2-5 throughout the course of the 1998 campaign, and in the season
2-6 finale against archrival Texas A&M University, he became the
2-7 Division 1-A career rushing leader on an electrifying 60-yard
2-8 touchdown run in the first quarter and led Texas to a thrilling
2-9 26-24 victory; his remarkable collegiate career was punctuated when
2-10 the Longhorns rolled over Mississippi State in the Cotton Bowl
2-11 38-11, behind his two touchdowns, 203 rushing yards, and 45
2-12 receiving yards; and
2-13 WHEREAS, Off the football field, actions truly speak louder
2-14 than words for the soft-spoken Mr. Williams, who has visited
2-15 children's hospitals around the country during his four-year
2-16 college career and dreams of one day becoming a teacher; indeed, it
2-17 has sometimes been difficult to tell which he has enjoyed more,
2-18 sharing time with ill or at-risk youngsters or breaking tackles and
2-19 galloping into the end zone to extend his NCAA touchdown record;
2-20 and
2-21 WHEREAS, Whether he is mentoring students at Campbell
2-22 Elementary School or playing touch football with neighborhood kids,
2-23 Ricky seeks to set a positive example for all children,
2-24 particularly minority and underprivileged youths; he revels in his
2-25 role as a father figure and works hard to make himself available to
2-26 the public and to use his undeniable influence to effect
2-27 affirmative change; and
3-1 WHEREAS, In recognition of his achievements, which include 16
3-2 NCAA records and 41 University of Texas records, Mr. Williams
3-3 received virtually every accolade a collegiate running back can be
3-4 awarded at the end of his senior season, including his second
3-5 consecutive Doak Walker Award and the Maxwell Award; in addition,
3-6 he was named Player of the Year by the Associated Press, The
3-7 Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Foundation, and was the Football
3-8 News Offensive Player of the Year; and
3-9 WHEREAS, On December 12, 1998, at the Downtown Athletic Club
3-10 in New York City, Ricky Williams joined the elite fraternity in
3-11 college football when he was named the 1998 Heisman Trophy Winner,
3-12 becoming only the second Texas Longhorn ever to win that coveted
3-13 trophy; and
3-14 WHEREAS, This reluctant superstar has accepted his celebrity
3-15 status, but he remains at heart a family man, devoted to his
3-16 mother, Sandy, and his sisters, Cassandra and Rebecca, and the
3-17 entire family takes tremendous pride in his athletic exploits and
3-18 his active community service; and
3-19 WHEREAS, In this day and age, athletes with Ricky Williams's
3-20 combination of skill and moral fiber are a breath of fresh air, and
3-21 this unique individual is most deserving of the many awards and
3-22 accolades that he has received; he is the source of much enjoyment
3-23 and enthusiasm among his legion of fans, and it is quite a
3-24 testament to his character that he has accomplished so much while
3-25 staying true to himself and his ideals; and
3-26 WHEREAS, Ricky Williams's myriad accomplishments during the
3-27 course of his stellar four-year career with The University of Texas
4-1 at Austin, both on and off the field of play, have earned him
4-2 legendary status in the pantheon of Longhorn football heroes and
4-3 established standards to which all student athletes can aspire;
4-4 now, therefore, be it
4-5 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
4-6 Legislature hereby congratulate Ricky Williams for his
4-7 extraordinary athletic achievements, including setting the all-time
4-8 NCAA Division 1-A career rushing, touchdown, and all-purpose
4-9 yardage records, and winning the 1998 Heisman Trophy; and, be it
4-10 further
4-11 RESOLVED, That the house also pay tribute to Mr. Williams for
4-12 his exemplary service to the Austin community, to the Lone Star
4-13 State, and to citizens across the country and commend him for
4-14 embracing his status as a role model; and, be it further
4-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-16 prepared for Mr. Williams as an expression of highest regard by the
4-17 Texas House of Representatives.
Dukes
Naishtat
Greenberg
Maxey
Keel
Laney Glaze Moreno of El Paso
Alexander Goodman Morrison
Allen Goolsby Mowery
Alvarado Gray Naishtat
Averitt Green Najera
Bailey Greenberg Nixon
Berman Grusendorf Noriega
Bonnen Gutierrez Oliveira
Bosse Haggerty Olivo
Brimer Hamric Palmer
Brown of Kaufman Hardcastle Pickett
Brown of Brazos Hartnett Pitts
Burnam Hawley Puente
Capelo Heflin Ramsay
Carter Hilbert Rangel
Chavez Hilderbran Reyna of Bexar
Chisum Hill Reyna of Dallas
Christian Hinojosa Ritter
Clark Hochberg Sadler
Coleman Hodge Salinas
Cook Homer Seaman
Corte Hope Shields
Counts Howard Siebert
Crabb Hunter Smith
Craddick Hupp Smithee
Crownover Isett Solis of Cameron
Cuellar Janek Solis of Bexar
Culberson Jones of Brazos Solomons
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Staples
Davis of Harris Jones of Dallas Swinford
Davis of Dallas Junell Talton
Delisi Keel Telford
Denny Keffer Thompson
Deshotel King of Parker Tillery
Driver King of Uvalde Truitt
Dukes Krusee Turner of Coleman
Dunnam Kuempel Turner of Harris
Dutton Lengefeld Uher
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Van de Putte
Eiland Longoria Walker
Elkins Luna West
Ellis McCall Williams
Farabee McClendon Wilson
Farrar McReynolds Wise
Flores Madden Wohlgemuth
Gallego Marchant Wolens
Garcia Maxey Woolley
George Merritt Yarbrough
Giddings Moreno of Harris Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 34 was adopted by the House on
January 28, 1999, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House