|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
WHEREAS, Michael Stephens was instrumental in the passage of |
|
House Bill 2038, requiring Texas schools to establish a protocol |
|
for dealing with student-athletes suspected to have sustained a |
|
concussion; and |
|
WHEREAS, The legislation, which was authored by State |
|
Representative Four Price, has been named "Natasha's Law" in honor |
|
of Natasha Helmick, whose soccer career ended after she suffered |
|
five concussions in four years; involved in the sport since age |
|
four, she earned a scholarship to play for Texas State University, |
|
but a medical evaluation changed the course of her path; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Stephens's efforts in behalf of this bill |
|
included testifying before the House Committee on Public Health, |
|
discussing its importance with numerous members of the legislature, |
|
and attending a press conference at the Capitol shortly after the |
|
bill was introduced in the house; and |
|
WHEREAS, Executive director of the Texas State Athletic |
|
Trainers' Association, "Spanky" Stephens began his work as a |
|
trainer while a student at The University of Texas at Austin in 1967 |
|
and went on to become head trainer there in 1978; he supervised |
|
hundreds of athletes and worked with nine Longhorn national |
|
championship teams, and he was also responsible for a strong |
|
student program that sent qualified trainers to high schools and |
|
colleges; he accepted his current post after retiring from UT in |
|
2000; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Stephens has further distinguished himself as a |
|
legislative representative for the Southwest Athletic Trainers' |
|
Association, as a longtime member of the Texas Advisory Board of |
|
Athletic Trainers, and as the recipient of many awards and honors, |
|
including induction into the All-American Football Foundation Hall |
|
of Honor and the SWATA Hall of Fame; and |
|
WHEREAS, Deeply concerned about the health and well-being of |
|
student-athletes, Spanky Stephens benefited his fellow citizens |
|
with his outstanding advocacy for Natasha's Law, and Representative |
|
Price expresses his gratitude for Mr. Stephens's role in achieving |
|
this notable legislative victory; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
Legislature hereby honor Michael "Spanky" Stephens for his efforts |
|
to heighten awareness of the dangers associated with concussion |
|
sustained by student-athletes and extend to him sincere best wishes |
|
for the future; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for Mr. Stephens as an expression of high regard by the |
|
Texas House of Representatives. |