R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives joins with
1-2 football fans across the state and nation in mourning the loss of
1-3 legendary coach Tom Landry, who passed away on February 12, 2000,
1-4 at the age of 75; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A native of Mission, Texas, Mr. Landry was born
1-6 September 11, 1924, and attended Mission High School, where he
1-7 demonstrated an exceptional affinity for football as a quarterback,
1-8 free safety, and fullback and earned all-region distinction; and
1-9 WHEREAS, He enrolled at The University of Texas but set aside
1-10 his studies to join the U.S. Army Air Corps; this patriotic
1-11 individual served his country with distinction during World War II,
1-12 flying 30 missions with the Eighth Air Force; and
1-13 WHEREAS, After completing military service he returned to the
1-14 Forty Acres, where he excelled on both sides of the ball as a
1-15 defensive back and fullback for the Longhorns; an All-Southwest
1-16 Conference performer, he played an instrumental role in Texas'
1-17 victories in the 1948 Sugar Bowl and 1949 Orange Bowl; and
1-18 WHEREAS, Mr. Landry earned a bachelor's degree in business
1-19 from The University of Texas but remained focused on football; in
1-20 1949 he joined the New York Yankees of the All-American Football
1-21 Conference and moved to the New York Giants organization the
1-22 following year; and
1-23 WHEREAS, A stalwart for the Giants for several seasons,
1-24 Mr. Landry earned All-Pro honors as a player-coach in 1954; he
2-1 turned his talents to coaching full-time in 1956, when he assumed
2-2 responsibility for the Giants defense, and his innovative defensive
2-3 schemes helped the team to an NFL title by overpowering the Chicago
2-4 Bears 47-7; and
2-5 WHEREAS, Mr. Landry moved with his family to Dallas in 1957,
2-6 and in 1959 he was hired to be the head coach of the fledgling
2-7 Dallas Cowboys team; and
2-8 WHEREAS, Although the franchise endured a rocky start over
2-9 its first few seasons, Mr. Landry's quiet determination and
2-10 visionary leadership ultimately helped build Dallas into a
2-11 perennial football power and championship contender, earning the
2-12 Cowboys the nickname "America's Team"; and
2-13 WHEREAS, During his 29-year tenure with the silver and blue,
2-14 Mr. Landry led the Cowboys to 270 wins, 13 division titles, and 5
2-15 Super Bowl appearances, including victories over Miami in 1972 and
2-16 Denver in 1978; and
2-17 WHEREAS, In 1990 he received one of the most prestigious of
2-18 gridiron honors when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of
2-19 Fame, and on July 20, 1993, his contributions to the Dallas Cowboys
2-20 were forever enshrined by that organization with the unveiling of
2-21 his name alongside the silhouette of his trademark fedora at Texas
2-22 Stadium, signifying his induction into the Cowboys' Ring of Honor;
2-23 and
2-24 WHEREAS, Mr. Landry was a man of abiding faith, and his
2-25 actions consistently reflected his boundless integrity, fairness,
2-26 and commitment to helping his fellowman; and
2-27 WHEREAS, Throughout the course of his life, Tom Landry set
3-1 standards of excellence on and off the playing field which few can
3-2 equal but to which all may aspire; his passing leaves a void in the
3-3 world of sports that can truly never be filled, but his remarkable
3-4 achievements as a coach and his legacy of fairness, honesty, and
3-5 integrity will continue to inspire countless individuals for years
3-6 to come; now, therefore, be it
3-7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-8 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Tom Landry and extend
3-9 sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Alicia
3-10 Wiggs Landry; to his son, Tom Landry, Jr., his wife, Clarke, and
3-11 their children, Taylor, Logan, and Tom Landry III; to his daughter,
3-12 Kitty Landry Phillips, her husband, Eddie, and their children, Ryan
3-13 and Jennifer Phillips; to his son-in-law, Gary Childress, and
3-14 granddaughter, Christina Childress, the husband and daughter of the
3-15 Landrys' late daughter, Lisa Landry Childress; and to the many
3-16 other friends, relatives, and admirers of this Lone Star legend;
3-17 and, be it further
3-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-19 prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
3-20 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Tom
3-21 Landry.
Goolsby
Laney Goodman Merritt
Alexander Goolsby Miller
Allen Gray Moreno of Harris
Averitt Green Moreno of El Paso
Bailey Grusendorf Morrison
Berman Gutierrez Mowery
Bonnen Haggerty Naishtat
Bosse Hamric Najera
Brimer Hardcastle Nixon
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Noriega
Brown of Brazos Hawley Oliveira
Burnam Heflin Olivo
Callegari Hilbert Pickett
Capelo Hilderbran Pitts
Carter Hill Puente
Chavez Hinojosa Ramsay
Chisum Hochberg Rangel
Christian Hodge Raymond
Clark Homer Reyna of Bexar
Coleman Hope Reyna of Dallas
Cook Hopson Ritter
Corte Howard Sadler
Counts Hunter Salinas
Crabb Hupp Seaman
Craddick Isett Shields
Crownover Janek Smith
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Smithee
Davis of Harris Jones of Bexar Solis
Davis of Dallas Jones of Dallas Solomons
Delisi Junell Swinford
Denny Keel Talton
Deshotel Keffer Telford
Driver King of Parker Thompson
Dukes King of Uvalde Tillery
Dunnam Kitchen Truitt
Dutton Kolkhorst Turner of Coleman
Edwards Krusee Turner of Harris
Ehrhardt Kuempel Uher
Eiland Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Elkins Lewis of Orange Villarreal
Ellis Longoria Walker
Farabee Luna West
Farrar McCall Williams
Flores McClendon Wilson
Gallego McReynolds Wise
Garcia Madden Wohlgemuth
George Marchant Wolens
Geren Martinez Fischer Woolley
Giddings Maxey Yarbrough
Glaze Menendez Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 821 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 24, 2001.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House