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.