|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Homer Jones received well-deserved recognition for |
|
his exceptional athletic career when he was inducted into the Texas |
|
Black Sports Hall of Fame on February 7, 2015; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones first distinguished himself as a |
|
multisport star during his time at Frederick Douglass High School |
|
in Pittsburg; he played on the school's basketball team and posted |
|
impressive times in the 100-yard and 200-yard dash races as a member |
|
of the track and field squad; although he only played football |
|
during his senior year, he garnered the interest of several |
|
colleges and ultimately chose to attend Texas Southern University; |
|
and |
|
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan became known as one of the |
|
fastest athletes in TSU history, demonstrating his speed as a |
|
member of the football and track teams; on the gridiron, he helped |
|
the Tigers achieve a number of memorable wins, including a victory |
|
over football powerhouse Grambling State University; his talents as |
|
a college sprinter earned him a place on the United States Track and |
|
Field Team, and he would go on to train for international |
|
competition with future NFL Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboy Bob |
|
Hayes; and |
|
WHEREAS, Originally drafted by the Houston Oilers of the |
|
American Football League, Mr. Jones eventually joined the New York |
|
Giants of the National Football League as a wide receiver; he was |
|
named the team's most valuable player for 1967 after an exemplary |
|
season in which he led the league in touchdown catches with 13, and |
|
his average of 66.4 receiving yards per game remains a franchise |
|
record; moreover, he was selected to the Pro Bowl on two separate |
|
occasions; he was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1970 and played |
|
one season with that team before a knee injury forced him to retire |
|
from the game; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones achieved further acclaim on the gridiron |
|
by becoming the first player to "spike" the ball to celebrate a |
|
touchdown, and he also returned a kickoff for a touchdown during the |
|
first-ever broadcast of Monday Night Football in 1970; and |
|
WHEREAS, An athlete possessing superb ability and |
|
dedication, Homer Jones excelled against top competition in each of |
|
his chosen sports, and he is indeed deserving of this notable |
|
hall-of-fame honor; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
Legislature hereby congratulate Homer Jones on his induction into |
|
the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame 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. Jones as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
House of Representatives. |
|
|
Hughes |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 2057 was adopted by the House on May |
|
21, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|