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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A legendary athlete who has embraced a second career |
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as a spiritual leader, Pastor George Foreman is being honored for 30 |
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years of inspired evangelistic service with a special celebration |
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on March 17, 2007, in Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Ordained in 1977, George Foreman is well known for |
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twice winning the world heavyweight boxing championship, yet it is |
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in his role as pastor that he has had a most profound effect on his |
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community; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Marshall on January 10, 1949, George Foreman |
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won an Olympic gold medal in 1968 and then claimed the world |
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heavyweight title in 1973 by defeating Smokin' Joe Frazier; after |
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losing the crown to Muhammad Ali the following year in the epic |
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"Rumble in the Jungle," the former champ retired from the ring in |
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1978 after experiencing a spiritual conversion; he later became the |
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pastor of the Church of Lord Jesus Christ in Houston, where he still |
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preaches today, and also founded the George Foreman Youth and |
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Community Center to aid local residents; and |
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WHEREAS, Pastor Foreman's unprecedented boxing comeback at |
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the age of 37 reintroduced the heavyweight to the world as a changed |
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man with a jovial presence in the ring; in 1994, at the age of 45, he |
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shocked boxing fans everywhere by regaining the heavyweight title |
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with a knockout victory over Michael Moorer more than two decades |
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after claiming his first world title; and |
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WHEREAS, Despite his dramatic return to the top of the boxing |
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world and his fame as the promoter of the George Foreman grill, |
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Pastor Foreman has remained true to his spiritual ideals and his |
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fellow congregants at the Church of Lord Jesus Christ, and his |
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ability to impact the lives of others from the pulpit has proved as |
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inspirational and effective as his accomplishments inside the |
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boxing ring; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend George Foreman for his 30 years of |
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evangelical service and extend best wishes to him for many more |
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years of success in that endeavor; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Pastor Foreman as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |