H.R. No. 404



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The field house at the Jesse Owens Memorial Complex, 
a new facility of the Dallas Independent School District that is 
scheduled to open in August 2005, has been named for longtime Dallas 
basketball coach Ellis Davis, Jr.; and
	WHEREAS, Seating 7,500 individuals, the field house will be 
used for volleyball, basketball, wrestling, and graduation 
ceremonies, as well as for other school district functions; and
	WHEREAS, During his three decades with the Dallas ISD, Mr. 
Davis taught and coached in elementary and middle schools before 
accepting an assignment at the high school level; he went on to 
become an institution at Roosevelt High School, where his teams 
scored 641 wins against 128 losses over the course of his 23-year 
tenure; throughout his career, his teams routinely ranked in the 
top 10, and in 1972 he led Roosevelt to the UIL Class 4A state 
championship, making the Mustangs the first Dallas team to claim a 
title following the integration of the UIL; and
	WHEREAS, Nominated for national Basketball Coach of the Year, 
Mr. Davis has been inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame 
and the Texas African American Coaches Association Hall of Honor; 
in addition, the annual Ellis Davis Basketball Roast and Banquet 
and annual Ellis Davis Basketball Classic have been established; in 
2005, Mr. Davis and his wife, Betty Joe Davis, were named recipients 
of an Outstanding Texan Award by the Texas Legislative Black 
Caucus; and
	WHEREAS, This distinguished Texan earned a bachelor of 
science degree in physical education from Bishop College and a 
master of education degree from the University of North Texas; as a 
young adult, he served his country in the United States Army; and
	WHEREAS, A revered gentleman who has given countless Dallas 
students a vision of what they can attain through perseverance and 
hard work, Ellis Davis is indeed deserving of this most recent 
accolade, and it is a pleasure to join in commending him for his 
immeasurable contributions to the youth of his city; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby recognize Ellis Davis, Jr., 
on the naming of the field house at the Jesse Owens Memorial Complex 
in his honor and warmly commend him on his lifetime of exceptional 
achievements; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Mr. Davis as an expression of high regard by the Texas 
House of Representatives.

                                                                 Jones of Dallas

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 404 was adopted by the House on July 
20, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House