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H.R. No. 227
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Frank Fallon, famed sportscaster of Baylor
University, passed away on April 30, 2004, at the age of 73, leaving
a great void in the lives of many in the communities of Waco and
Baylor University; and
WHEREAS, Dubbed the "Voice of the Baylor Bears," Mr. Fallon
had called Baylor basketball and football games for more than four
decades, painting the scenes of many triumphs and defeats for avid
Baylor fans with his distinctively resonant voice; and
WHEREAS, A San Antonio native, he began broadcasting Baylor
football games in 1953 while working for KWTX radio in Waco; he
later served as the station's general manager for 29 years and was
Baylor's coordinator of broadcast activities for more than a
decade; and
WHEREAS, In 1960, Mr. Fallon was recruited by the American
Football League to broadcast the games of the Houston Oilers; his
professionalism and skill in that endeavor earned him an invitation
to broadcast weekly games for ABC-TV, but he declined the offer,
preferring life in Waco to big-city living; and
WHEREAS, This beloved broadcaster's extraordinary career
also included 45 years of announcing Texas high school football
games, and countless football fans tuned in to hear his dulcet tones
dance on the Texas airways as prep-school athletes battled beneath
the Friday night lights; in addition, he was the public address
announcer for the NCAA Final Four for two decades and provided
play-by-play coverage of Southwest Conference basketball for NBC
and ESPN; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Fallon received several awards and honors in his
long career, including "Top 10 All-Time Radio Play-by-Play
Announcers" by the Texas Sportswriters Association; five-time
Texas Association of Broadcasters Sportscaster of the Year;
seven-time Associated Press Best Radio Play-by-Play Announcer;
induction into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame and the Texas High
School Football Hall of Fame; and honorary membership in the Texas
High School Football Coaches Association; and
WHEREAS, Most recently in 2001, Mr. Fallon was given the
Chris Schenkel Award from the National Football Foundation and
College Hall of Fame and the Baylor Communications Award for his
distinguished service in the field of broadcasting and his
contributions to the community; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Fallon was a friend to both players and coaches
alike and held a strong interest in the workings of the teams,
attending practices and sessions in an effort to improve his
already considerable knowledge of the sports he covered; he never
entertained the idea of working elsewhere and also taught a course
on broadcasting at Baylor University for 11 years; when he retired
in 1995, a banner displaying his microphone was hung in his honor
from the rafters of the school's basketball arena; and
WHEREAS, For 42 years, Mr. Fallon brought much enjoyment to
countless sports fans, and those listeners appreciated the fairness
and accuracy of his reporting; however, what will be cherished most
by those who knew him away from the microphone will be the memories
of a congenial and considerate man; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of
Frank Fallon and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his
family: to his wife, June Fallon; to his sons, Steve Fallon, Mark
Fallon, Mike Fallon, and Kyle Fallon; to his five grandchildren;
and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Frank
Fallon.
Mabry
Dunnam
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 227 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 17, 2004.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House