H.R. No. 343



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Mr. Les Vanover has recently celebrated the 50th 
Anniversary of his graduation in 1954 from Abilene Christian 
College, now Abilene Christian University, as a National Athletic 
Intercollegiate Association National Champion in track and field; 
and
	WHEREAS, He cleared the winning height of 6'8-1/2" as a high 
jumper in the Texas Relays Exhibition in the spring of 1955 and 
cleared a jump at 6'10" even before the famous "Fosberry Flop" was 
used in the sport; and
	WHEREAS, He won the Texas Amateur Athletic Union high jump 
competition in the summer of that same year; and
	WHEREAS, He was given the opportunity to participate as an 
Olympic prospect in the United States Army and accomplished a high 
jump of 6'9", setting a new United States Army record at Ft. Leonard 
Wood, Missouri, while still using the "old western belly-roll 
style"; and
	WHEREAS, He won the first Olympic trial meet held at Soldier 
Field in Chicago with a first place jump of 6'8" and went on to 
participate with the All-Army Team in Pasadena, California; and
	WHEREAS, As an Army laboratory technician at a military 
hospital in Germany, he participated in the Indoor Frankfurt 
International Sports Festival in February 1957; and
	WHEREAS, He received a plaque from General of the Army Mark 
Clark as the European Track and Field Athlete of the Year as a high 
jump champion and as a 110-meter hurdles champion; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Vanover grew up in Beaumont, Texas, and coached 
in the Corpus Christi Independent School District; and
	WHEREAS, He is now living in Granbury, Texas, where he was 
recently featured in the Hood County News as an accomplished 
wildlife painter at the age of 73, and he has won many awards for his 
artistry; and
	WHEREAS, He will be forever remembered as a world-class 
champion in track and field; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 1st Called Session, join in celebrating the 50th 
anniversary of Mr. Les Vanover's international success in track and 
field and his continued success in life as a painter and in his 
community; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Les Vanover as well as one for his daughter, Kathryn, 
and her husband, Mike Cox, of Granbury.

                                                                          Hunter

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 343 was adopted by the House on July 
17, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House