H.C.R. No. 41 


HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Former Houston Oilers defensive end Elvin Bethea has received the highest honor in professional football with his induction into the National Football League (NFL) Hall of Fame in 2003; and WHEREAS, A two-time All-NAIA offensive lineman for North Carolina A&T, Mr. Bethea was chosen by the Houston Oilers in the third round of the 1968 NFL draft; during the next 16 years, he demonstrated a rare gift for shedding blockers and tackling ball carriers and proved to be one of the greatest players in the history of the Houston Oilers; and WHEREAS, The 6-foot-3 defensive end holds the Oiler record for most games played, at 210, and most seasons played, at 16; he appeared in a record-tying nine All-Star competitions, including eight Pro Bowl games; he also led the team in quarterback sacks for six seasons, and his 1973 total of 17 sacks remains the single-season standard; and WHEREAS, Formidable to opponents but cherished by teammates, coaches, and fans, Mr. Bethea retired in 1983 and joined an elite group that same year when the Oilers retired his jersey number; it is a privilege at this time to pay tribute to the exceptional athleticism and sterling career of this esteemed gentleman; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby honor Elvin Bethea on his induction into the National Football League Hall of Fame in 2003 and extend to him sincere best wishes for success and happiness in the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Bethea as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. Dutton                         Craddick        Giddings        Merritt         Allen        Goodman        Miller         Alonzo        Goolsby        Moreno of Harris         Bailey        Griggs        Moreno of El Paso         Baxter        Grusendorf        Morrison         Berman        Guillen        Mowery         Bohac        Gutierrez        Naishtat         Bonnen        Haggerty        Nixon         Branch        Hamilton        Noriega         Brown of Kaufman        Hamric        Oliveira         Brown of Brazos        Hardcastle        Olivo         Burnam        Harper-Brown        Paxton         Callegari        Hartnett        Pena         Campbell        Heflin        Phillips         Canales        Hegar        Pickett         Capelo        Hilderbran        Pitts         Casteel        Hill        Puente         Castro        Hochberg        Quintanilla         Chavez        Hodge        Rangel         Chisum        Homer        Raymond         Christian        Hope        Reyna         Coleman        Hopson        Riddle         Cook of Navarro        Howard        Ritter         Cook of Colorado        Hughes        Rodriguez         Corte        Hunter        Rose         Crabb        Hupp        Seaman         Crownover        Isett        Smith of Tarrant         Davis of Harris        Jones of Lubbock        Smith of Harris         Davis of Dallas        Jones of Bexar        Smithee         Dawson        Jones of Dallas        Solis         Delisi        Keel        Solomons         Denny        Keffer of Dallas        Stick         Deshotel        Keffer of Eastland        Swinford         Driver        King        Talton         Dukes        Kolkhorst        Taylor         Dunnam        Krusee        Telford         Dutton        Kuempel        Thompson         Edwards        Laney        Truitt         Eiland        Laubenberg        Turner         Eissler        Lewis        Uresti         Elkins        Luna        Van Arsdale         Ellis        Mabry        Villarreal         Farabee        Madden        West         Farrar        Marchant        Wilson         Flores        Martinez Fischer        Wise         Flynn        McCall        Wohlgemuth         Gallego        McClendon        Wolens         Garza        McReynolds        Wong         Gattis        Menendez        Woolley         Geren        Mercer        Zedler         ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 41 was adopted by the House on February 12, 2003, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 41 was adopted by the Senate on February 12, 2003, by a viva-voce vote. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor