| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Individuals who give of themselves to help those in |
|
|
difficult circumstances are indeed deserving of admiration and |
|
|
praise; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Former Dallas Cowboys football player Everson Walls |
|
|
proved himself a man of great kindness and generosity through his |
|
|
efforts to aid his former Cowboys teammate and close friend Ron |
|
|
Springs, who has experienced serious health problems due to |
|
|
diabetes; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Understanding the severity of his friend's |
|
|
condition, Mr. Walls agreed to donate one of his kidneys so that Mr. |
|
|
Springs could undergo much-needed transplant surgery; the |
|
|
operations took place in late February 2007 and have greatly |
|
|
improved the prognosis of Mr. Springs; as a result of this |
|
|
remarkable gift, Ron Springs is expected to regain the use of his |
|
|
hands, to walk again on his own, and to be able to end his dialysis |
|
|
treatments; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The bond between these former athletes was forged in |
|
|
the early 1980s when both were members of the Cowboys; Everson Walls |
|
|
began his NFL career in Dallas in 1981 after starring as an |
|
|
All-American defensive back for Grambling State University; in his |
|
|
13 seasons as a professional, he was named to four Pro Bowl teams, |
|
|
led the league in interceptions in 1981, 1982, and 1985, and was |
|
|
recognized as one of the top cornerbacks in the game; he has been |
|
|
inducted into the Grambling State University Athletic Hall of Fame, |
|
|
the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the Texas Black Sports Hall of |
|
|
Fame, and the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A Dallas native who continues to reside in the |
|
|
Metroplex, Everson Walls hopes that his compassionate action in |
|
|
helping his friend will also work toward a greater good; he and Ron |
|
|
Springs plan to create a foundation that will encourage organ |
|
|
donation, and the publicity surrounding the transplant has already |
|
|
focused attention on this important medical issue; at this time, it |
|
|
is a pleasure to recognize the selfless contributions of this |
|
|
heroic Texan; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby honor Everson Walls for donating a kidney to aid |
|
|
his friend and extend sincere best wishes to Mr. Walls for continued |
|
|
success with his important work; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Mr. Walls as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |