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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of an admired athlete and community leader |
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drew to a close with the passing of Anthony James Hawkins of Bay |
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City on October 7, 2015, at the age of 57; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Jimmie and Bessie Hawkins Times, Andy |
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Hawkins was born in Bay City on March 31, 1958, and grew up with the |
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companionship of six siblings; a graduate of Van Vleck High School, |
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he went on to play linebacker at Texas A&M University--Kingsville, |
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and he was inducted into the Javelina Hall of Fame in 1992; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hawkins subsequently enjoyed a nine-season |
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career in professional football; in 1980, he was drafted by the |
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played for four seasons before |
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signing with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football |
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League; he returned to the NFL with the San Diego Chargers in 1986, |
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and two years later, he played for a season with the Kansas City |
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Chiefs; after retiring from football, he finished his degree at |
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Wharton County Junior College and went on to work for a quarter |
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century at the OXEA Corporation; and |
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WHEREAS, A civic leader of tremendous vision and passion, |
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Mr. Hawkins served as a member of the Bay City Council, as president |
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of the Bay City Youth Football Association, and as a board member of |
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the Economic Action Committee of the Gulf Coast; he was a member of |
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the Bay City Lions Club, the Bay City Community Development |
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Corporation, and the Texas Association of Sports Officials, and he |
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shared his love of sports with local young people by refereeing |
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football, basketball, and softball games; he also enjoyed playing |
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golf and competing as a member of the Schlitz Bulls softball team; |
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in recognition of his outstanding service to the community, the |
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football field at Hardeman Park was named in his honor in 2016; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Hawkins was supported by |
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the love and encouragement of his wife, Sherry, with whom he shared |
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23 years, and he took tremendous pride in his daughters, April and |
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Andrea; and |
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WHEREAS, Andy Hawkins attained success in a range of pursuits |
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and built a rewarding life that was rich in family and friends, and |
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memories of his accomplishments will be a continuing source of |
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inspiration for all who knew him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Anthony James |
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Hawkins; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Anthony |
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James Hawkins. |