H.C.R. No. 41HOUSE 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