1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 163
 1-3                                  In Memory
 1-4                                     of
 1-5                             Richard Lee Marler
 1-6           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the
 1-7     citizens of Port Arthur in mourning the death of beloved high
 1-8     school football coach and community leader Richard Lee Marler,
 1-9     who died November 22, 2000; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Born August 5, 1943, in Floydada, Richard proved
1-11     himself a sports enthusiast early in life; as a student at
1-12     Floydada High School, Richard lettered in football, basketball,
1-13     tennis, and track and was also all-district in football; and
1-14           WHEREAS, Richard went on to run track at McMurry College
1-15     before ultimately graduating with his bachelor's degree from
1-16     Texas Tech University in 1966; he began his coaching career
1-17     the following year; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Richard served as a head football coach in
1-19     Port Arthur Independent School District for 25 years; during
1-20     his 23 years at Stephen F. Austin High School, he maintained a
1-21     tight-knit coaching team and rose to prominence by leading his
 2-1     boys to the playoffs 10 times, five of them consecutive; while
 2-2     coaching at Stephen F. Austin he created the annual Golden
 2-3     Triangle Coaching Clinic; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, The final two years of his career, Richard worked
 2-5     hard to transform struggling players at Thomas Jefferson High
 2-6     School into a team that ultimately made it to the playoffs in
 2-7     2000; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, Widely regarded as a Southeast Texas coaching
 2-9     superstar, Richard was recognized many times for his considerable
2-10     abilities; among his many honors, Richard was named District
2-11     Coach of the Year four times and Golden Triangle Coach of the
2-12     Year twice; he also received the high honor of being inducted
2-13     into the Southeast Texas Coaches Association Hall of Honor and
2-14     the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Fame; and
2-15           WHEREAS, Later in life, Richard took an active role in
2-16     promoting the well-being of young Texans on a statewide level,
2-17     serving on the Governor's Commission for Juvenile Justice and
2-18     Delinquent Prevention and on the Governor's Commission for
2-19     Physical Fitness; he also served on the Port Arthur Mayor's
2-20     Umbrella Committee for At-Risk Students; and
2-21           WHEREAS, While it is impossible to list all of the
2-22     significant contributions that Richard made to coaching in Texas
2-23     or to measure the positive impact he had on the lives of the many
2-24     young people he worked with, it is appropriate to conclude that
 3-1     Richard achieved distinction in a profession filled with
 3-2     extraordinary accomplishments by many individuals; and
 3-3           WHEREAS, Richard leaves his family, friends, and the
 3-4     athletes he coached many treasured memories and a legacy of
 3-5     commitment to his community and profession; now, therefore, be it
 3-6           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
 3-7     77th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the
 3-8     family of Richard Lee Marler:  his wife, Linda; his two children,
 3-9     Trisha and Chuck; his mother, Lynn; and his eight grandchildren;
3-10     and, be it further
3-11           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
3-12     the members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy
3-13     from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this
3-14     day, it do so in memory of Richard Marler.
3-15                                                                 Bernsen
3-16                                  ______________________________________
3-17                                         President of the Senate
3-18                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-19                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-20                                  on February 1, 2001, by a rising vote.
3-21                                  ______________________________________
3-22                                         Secretary of the Senate
3-23                                  ______________________________________
3-24                                           Member, Texas Senate