83R23375 JWI-D
 
  By: Branch H.R. No. 2246
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The life of a legendary sports broadcaster drew to a
  close with the passing of Pat Summerall on April 16, 2013, at the
  age of 82; and
         WHEREAS, George Allen Summerall was born in Florida on May
  10, 1930; nicknamed "Pat" by his aunt and uncle, Mr. Summerall was a
  gifted multisport athlete in high school; he went on to play
  football, basketball, and baseball at the University of Arkansas,
  where he earned a bachelor's degree in education and, later, a
  master's degree in Russian history; and
         WHEREAS, Selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1952 National
  Football League draft, Mr. Summerall spent one year with that team
  and five seasons with the Chicago Cardinals before joining the New
  York Giants in 1958; though he sometimes played as a tight end or
  defensive end, he became best known as a placekicker, and during his
  first year with New York, he kicked a game-winning field goal in a
  snowstorm to lead the team to the playoffs; he competed in three NFL
  championship games with the Giants, and he retired after the 1961
  season, having scored 563 points during his 10 years in the league;
  and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Summerall got his start as an announcer at CBS
  Radio, where he was hired to voice short feature stories while still
  with the Giants; after concluding his playing career, he began
  broadcasting NFL games, and during his more than 40 years in the
  booth, he became one of the most popular announcers in professional
  sports; known as "the voice of football," Mr. Summerall covered 37
  NFL seasons, including 16 Super Bowls, and he was part of two famous
  partnerships, working with Tom Brookshier in the 1970s and with
  John Madden from 1981 to 2001; his understated style and
  authoritative tone perfectly balanced Mr. Madden's lively and
  detailed delivery, and the duo produced numerous memorable
  broadcasts, including Super Bowl XVI, the most-watched game in NFL
  history; Mr. Summerall also served as an announcer for other
  sports, calling 26 Masters Championships in golf and 21 U.S. Open
  tennis tournaments; and
         WHEREAS, He retired from broadcasting in 2002, having earned
  numerous accolades; he was named National Sportscaster of the Year
  by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in
  1977, and the organization inducted him into their hall of fame in
  1994; he was a member of the American Sportscasters Association
  Hall of Fame as well, and he was also the recipient of the lifetime
  achievement award from the National Academy of Television Arts and
  Sciences and the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro
  Football Hall of Fame; since 2006, the NFL has presented the annual
  Pat Summerall Award during Super Bowl weekend to a person whose
  career has "demonstrated the character, integrity, and leadership
  both on and off the job that the name Pat Summerall represents"; and
         WHEREAS, A longtime resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth area,
  Mr. Summerall was baptized at First Baptist Church in Euless and was
  a member of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano; in all his
  endeavors, he enjoyed the support of his loving wife and best
  friend, Cheri Summerall; he was the father of 3 children, Susan,
  Jay, and Kyle, and saw his family grow to include 10 grandchildren;
  and
         WHEREAS, Over the course of four decades, Pat Summerall was a
  beloved and respected voice for millions of sports fans, and his
  legacy will continue to be revered for many years to come; now,
  therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Pat Summerall and
  extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: to his
  wife, Cheri Summerall; to his children, Susan Wiles and her
  husband, Lanny, Jay Summerall and his wife, Kathy, and Kyle
  Summerall and his wife, Dana; to his grandchildren, Katharine Wiles
  Luebker and her husband, Garrett, Caroline Wiles, and Mary Beth,
  Patrick, Ann, William, Charlotte, Emily, Sarah Rose, and Marian
  Summerall; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it
  further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
  Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Pat
  Summerall.