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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Humberto Barrera is a notable figure in Texas |
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boxing, whose accomplishments continue to be celebrated more than |
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45 years after his last appearance in the ring; and |
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WHEREAS, "Lefty" Barrera became an accomplished fighter |
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while he was still a student at Robstown High School, finishing |
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second in the 1959 national Golden Gloves tournament and returning |
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the next year to win the title as an 18-year-old; after his victory |
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at the 1960 event, a fan encouraged him to try out for the Olympics, |
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and though he had previously been completely unaware of the event, |
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he decided to take part in the U.S. Olympic boxing trials that were |
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scheduled to take place the following month; and |
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WHEREAS, Facing other top fighters in the nation, he scored a |
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series of victories to earn a spot in the flyweight finals; with a |
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trip to the Olympics on the line and nursing several injuries, |
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Mr. Barrera won a hard-fought match to secure his place on the 1960 |
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U.S. team, a squad that also included light heavyweight Cassius |
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Clay, who would later take the name Muhammad Ali; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Barrera won his first two bouts at the Olympic |
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Games in Rome despite injuring his right thumb, but in his third |
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bout he was judged the loser in a controversial split decision that |
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incited loud booing from the spectators and prompted the |
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U.S. coaches to file a formal protest; he finished his amateur |
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career with a record of 42 wins and 4 losses; and |
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WHEREAS, Turning professional in 1961, Mr. Barrera spent |
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four more years in the ring; he registered 19 wins, nine by |
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knockout, against just three losses, and one of the highlights of |
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his pro career was beating the world's No. 3-ranked bantamweight; |
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highly sought after by promoters for the consistent quality of his |
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fights, he regularly drew large crowds to watch him display his |
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boxing skills before he hung up his gloves in 1965 to become an |
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engineer; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his exceptional achievements, |
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Mr. Barrera was named a member of the inaugural class of the Corpus |
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Christi Boxing Hall of Fame, and he continues to hold the |
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distinction of being the only boxer from the Robstown area to have |
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fought as an Olympian; he chronicled his experiences in the book My |
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Journey Through the 1960 Olympic Games; and |
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WHEREAS, Lefty Barrera distinguished himself as an athlete of |
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rare ability who represented his nation in the world's premier |
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international sports showcase, and his achievements remain a source |
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of pride for residents of the Texas Gulf Coast; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Humberto Barrera for his achievements as |
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an amateur and professional boxer and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Barrera as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Herrero |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1422 was adopted by the House on April |
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24, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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