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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The year 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the |
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dramatic triumph by the Texas Western College men's basketball team |
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in the final game of the NCAA tournament, and this milestone offers |
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a welcome opportunity to reflect on the squad's historic national |
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championship; and |
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WHEREAS, The Miners basketball team from Texas Western |
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College, now The University of Texas at El Paso, not only thrilled |
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its many fans by claiming the title in 1966, it also achieved a |
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major breakthrough that helped usher in an era of greater equality |
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in sports; and |
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WHEREAS, Though the civil rights movement in the United |
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States had achieved a number of important goals by the mid-1960s, |
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racial discrimination and segregation still existed in many facets |
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of American life, including collegiate athletics; that became |
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starkly clear on March 19, 1966, in College Park, Maryland, when the |
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Miners matched up against the University of Kentucky in the NCAA |
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final; in that game, Texas Western became the first program to start |
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five African American players in a national championship game; |
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Kentucky, on the other hand, had a roster composed entirely of white |
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players, and its coach, Adolph Rupp, was opposed to the racial |
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integration of his team; and |
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WHEREAS, Led by head coach Don Haskins, Texas Western took an |
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early lead on its opponent and never looked back, claiming the NCAA |
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title in a 72-65 victory; in so doing, the Miners shattered the myth |
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that a multiracial team could not reach the pinnacle of success on |
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the court; moreover, they helped open the door to new opportunities |
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for African American players throughout the nation, and their |
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accomplishment would later be depicted in Glory Road, the book |
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Coach Haskins wrote about that unforgettable season, as well a film |
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adaptation of his memoir; and |
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WHEREAS, The talented and determined players who made up the |
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1966 Texas Western squad included Jerry Armstrong, Orsten Artis, |
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Louis Baudoin, Willie Cager, Harry Flournoy, Bobby Joe Hill, David |
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Lattin, Dick Myers, David Palacio, Togo Railey, Nevil Shed, and |
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Willie Worsley; and |
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WHEREAS, The 1966 Texas Western basketball team played an |
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integral role in promoting the desegregation of college sports |
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while also becoming the only Texas team to date to win the NCAA |
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title in men's basketball, and that special moment in Lone Star |
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sports history is indeed deserving of special recognition; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Texas |
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Western College basketball team's victory in the NCAA national |
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championship game; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for The University of Texas at El Paso as an expression of |
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high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Márquez |
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Pickett |
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Moody |
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González |
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Blanco |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1705 was adopted by the House on April |
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23, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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