R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to
 1-2     recognize Lone Star native John Arthur "Jack" Johnson of Galveston,
 1-3     the first African American to win the world heavyweight boxing
 1-4     championship, for his immense talent and courage; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Born March 31, 1878, Mr. Johnson became interested
 1-6     in boxing as a teenager while working at a local gymnasium; after
 1-7     sharpening his skills, this talented athlete fought more than 100
 1-8     fights in three decades, posting fewer  than a dozen losses against
 1-9     fearsome competition; and
1-10           WHEREAS, At a time when other recognized American boxers
1-11     refused to meet him in the ring because of his color, Mr. Johnson
1-12     initially competed overseas, defeating Canadian Tommy Burns in
1-13     Australia in 1908 to become heavyweight champion of the world; his
1-14     bout two years later against fellow American Jim "The Great White
1-15     Hope" Jeffries has been called one of the greatest boxing matches
1-16     of all time, and ended with Mr. Johnson scoring a knockout in the
1-17     15th round; and
1-18           WHEREAS, He successfully defended his title against such
1-19     other formidable challengers as Stanley Ketchel and Jim Flynn,
1-20     holding the heavyweight crown until 1915, and continued to
1-21     participate in exhibition matches as late as 1945; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Already a hero for saving lives during the deadly
1-23     Galveston hurricane in 1900, this admirable Texan demonstrated
1-24     praiseworthy personal courage again in World War I; he was in Spain
 2-1     when the United States entered the war, and he immediately
 2-2     contacted the United States Embassy in Madrid to offer his services
 2-3     to his country; his involvement in the region's military
 2-4     intelligence operations helped to prevent German U-boat crews from
 2-5     infiltrating the Spanish coast; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Jack Johnson was tragically killed in a car crash in
 2-7     1946, and the loss of this legendary figure was felt by a great
 2-8     many people; one of the Lone Star State's greatest athletes, he was
 2-9     immortalized in 1954 when he was posthumously inducted into the
2-10     Boxing Hall of Fame, and he is indeed deserving of legislative
2-11     commendation for his incredible legacy of achievements; now,
2-12     therefore, be it
2-13           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-14     Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2001, as Jack A. Johnson Day
2-15     and encourage all Texans to honor this outstanding champion.
                                                                      Eiland
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 711 was adopted by the House on May
         11, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House