By Counts                                              H.R. No. 246
         77R6032 JKB-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Everett Blackburn of Big Spring on
 1-2     January 30, 2001, at the age of 46, has brought a great loss to the
 1-3     family and many friends of this esteemed gentleman; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, A native of Scott City, Kansas, Mr. Blackburn was a
 1-5     resident of Big Spring for more than two decades; after a
 1-6     successful tenure with Emporia State University in Kansas, this
 1-7     highly respected educator joined the staff of the Big Spring
 1-8     Independent School District, and 11 years later he moved on to
 1-9     Howard College, where he had been employed for the past 11 years;
1-10     and
1-11           WHEREAS, Mr. Blackburn was a tremendous asset to the faculty
1-12     and students of Howard College, and in honor of his significant
1-13     contributions and legacy of hard work and dedication, the school
1-14     established the Everett Blackburn Scholarship; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Renowned for his work in the field of athletic
1-16     training, Mr. Blackburn earned much acclaim throughout Texas and
1-17     the nation and was inducted into both the Halls of Fame for the
1-18     Southwest Athletic Trainers Association and the National Athletic
1-19     Trainers Association; he was honored with the Eddie Wojicki Award
1-20     in 1992 as the best athletic trainer in Texas and Oklahoma, was
1-21     named the Trainer of the Year by the National Athletic Trainers
1-22     Association, and held membership in the Texas Society for Sports
1-23     Medicine, the American Trauma Society, the National Strength
1-24     Coaches Association, and the Justin Rodeo Sports Medicine Program;
 2-1     and
 2-2           WHEREAS, A devoted husband and father, Mr. Blackburn married
 2-3     his wife, Gloria, on June 10, 2000, and the couple enjoyed a
 2-4     wonderful relationship built on love, trust, and mutual respect;
 2-5     this dedicated family man was also the loving father of one
 2-6     daughter, Sandra Mendez; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Everett Blackburn was a man of integrity and
 2-8     compassion, and although he will be greatly missed by all who knew
 2-9     him, his spirit will live on in the hearts and minds of the many
2-10     people whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be it
2-11           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-12     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Everett Blackburn and
2-13     extend sincere sympathy to his family: to his wife, Gloria
2-14     Blackburn; to his daughter, Sandra Mendez; to his mother, Gladys
2-15     Blackburn; to his aunt, Elva Jean Latas; to his uncle, Wayne
2-16     Blackburn; and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it
2-17     further
2-18           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-19     prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
2-20     Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Everett
2-21     Blackburn.