|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
WHEREAS, Texas A&M University alumnus John Ball is embarking |
|
on a unique adventure and raising money for a good cause by walking |
|
coast-to-coast across the nation during the spring and summer of |
|
2015; and |
|
WHEREAS, Calling himself the "Walking Aggie," this hardy |
|
58-year-old pilot from San Antonio plans to walk 2,673 miles from |
|
California to Florida in 170 days, arriving in Daytona Beach on |
|
August 17; in addition to taking on an arduous challenge, he is also |
|
raising money for the Walking Aggie Endowed Ring Scholarship, which |
|
will help Texas A&M students of limited means buy the coveted but |
|
expensive Aggie Ring, which A&M students who have earned 90 credit |
|
hours are eligible to wear; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Ball began his journey on the beach in La Jolla, |
|
California, on March 1, 2015, and unlike many other cross-country |
|
walkers, he is traveling alone without a support vehicle, carrying |
|
everything he needs in a backpack and staying in motels, in his |
|
tent, or with Aggie families or other people he meets along the way; |
|
supporters and fellow Aggies can follow his progress by reading his |
|
daily posts and viewing photographs on the Walking Aggie website; |
|
he is also carrying a GPS device, which allows visitors to the |
|
website to track his position moment by moment, in real time; and |
|
WHEREAS, A 1978 graduate of Texas A&M, Mr. Ball spent 26 |
|
years in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a C-5 Galaxy transport pilot |
|
in Grenada, Panama, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, as well as |
|
completing a two-year stint piloting Air Force Two for vice |
|
presidents Al Gore and Dick Cheney; he retired from the air force in |
|
2006 at the rank of colonel, and in civilian life, he continues to |
|
serve his nation by training air force C-5 pilots in San Antonio; |
|
and |
|
WHEREAS, By undertaking this rigorous test of endurance, |
|
determination, and shoe leather, Mr. Ball is simultaneously |
|
helping students of his beloved alma mater and making himself a |
|
source of pride and inspiration for Aggies everywhere; now, |
|
therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
Legislature hereby commend John Ball on his ambitious endeavor to |
|
create the Walking Aggie Endowed Ring Scholarship and extend to him |
|
sincere best wishes for good weather, safe travels, and great |
|
success in his undertaking; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for Mr. Ball as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
House of Representatives. |
|
|
Flynn |
|
VanDeaver |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1568 was adopted by the House on April |
|
16, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|