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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of an admired coach and educator drew to a |
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close with the passing of Richard P. Sheffield of Jacksonville on |
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March 17, 2009, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on May 17, 1924, in the community of Blox in |
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Jasper County, Dick Sheffield lettered in four sports at Kirbyville |
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High School and went on to play football and basketball at Lamar |
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Junior College; his studies were interrupted by service in the |
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Pacific Theater of World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy, but he |
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returned to Lamar in 1946 and then went on to be an outstanding |
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football player at Tulane University, earning invitations to the |
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Blue-Gray and Senior Bowl all-star games; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his graduation from Tulane, Mr. Sheffield |
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entered the coaching ranks at Beaumont High School, ultimately |
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becoming the team's head coach and winning a district championship |
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in 1956; two years later, he became assistant coach at Jacksonville |
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High School under Bum Phillips, Mr. Sheffield's former college |
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teammate; when Coach Phillips departed in 1959, Mr. Sheffield |
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became the Indians' head coach, beginning a 12-year tenure that |
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made him a well-known figure among football enthusiasts in East |
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Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, His Jacksonville High teams distinguished |
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themselves with their fierce competitiveness and frequently |
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battled for the district crown; in 1960 and 1962, he took his team |
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to the semifinal round in the state playoffs, and in 1970, his final |
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season on the Jacksonville sidelines, the Indians reached the |
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quarterfinals; on-field wins were only one measure of Coach |
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Sheffield's success, however; he was also renowned for his ability |
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to mold young athletes into responsible adults who came to |
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understand the value of hard work and perseverance, and he remained |
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a valued mentor for many of his players long after their high school |
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days had ended; highly respected in the Jacksonville community, he |
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was named the city's Man of the Year in 1960 and 1970; and |
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WHEREAS, After concluding his service at Jacksonville High, |
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he returned to coaching in 1979 with the eighth-grade team in |
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Henderson, and he also garnered an Outstanding Teacher of the Year |
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award in 1984 for his work with Henderson students; Coach Sheffield |
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was a member of the board of directors for the Texas High School |
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Coaches Association and was inducted into that organization's |
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Balfour Hall of Honor in 1987; he was also an active member of |
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Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville for 51 years; and |
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WHEREAS, Dick Sheffield leaves behind a legacy of leadership, |
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dedication, and concern for others, and memories of his words and |
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actions will continue to inspire his loved ones and the many |
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individuals he coached and taught through the years; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Richard P. Sheffield |
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and extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife of 58 years, Betty Braden Sheffield; to his son, Richard Braden |
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Sheffield; to his daughter, Suzanne Sheffield; to his |
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grandchildren, Sara Dell'Omo and her husband, Tom, Richard |
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Sheffield and his wife, Crystal, and Stephen Sheffield; to his |
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great-grandson, Leo Dell'Omo; to his daughter-in-law, Mariagrazia |
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Sheffield; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Richard P. |
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Sheffield. |