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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former NFL placekicker Rolf Benirschke built a |
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legacy of achievement in his years as a player, and he has further |
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distinguished himself through his courageous efforts to overcome |
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serious health issues and to work in behalf of others who face |
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similar challenges; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Boston, Mr. Benirschke played football |
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at the University of California, Davis, before being selected in |
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the 12th round of the 1977 NFL Draft; he made his professional debut |
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for the San Diego Chargers later that year, and he went on to spend |
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his entire decade-long career with that franchise; during his |
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tenure, he tallied an impressive total of 328 extra points and 146 |
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field goals and earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Benirschke's accomplishments are all the more |
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impressive given that he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in |
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his second NFL season; he overcame that life-threatening ailment to |
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once again excel on the gridiron, and his comeback was recognized |
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with numerous awards; he later battled hepatitis C, having |
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contracted the virus from a blood transfusion, and he underwent |
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extensive treatment to ultimately be cured of that potentially |
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deadly disease; and |
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WHEREAS, Motivated by his personal experiences, |
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Mr. Benirschke has spent more than three and a half decades |
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supporting patients who live with Crohn's disease, ulcerative |
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colitis, colorectal and bladder cancer, and other circumstances |
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that can lead to ostomy surgery; he has served as a national |
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spokesperson for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, which |
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presented him with a Modell Award for Business Leadership, and has |
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raised over $1 million to find a cure for inflammatory bowel |
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disease; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Benirschke has also collaborated with the |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Liver |
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Foundation, and other organizations that raise awareness of |
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hepatitis C; moreover, he created the Rolf Benirschke Legacy |
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Foundation and the patient support program Kick Hep C, and he |
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cofounded Legacy Health Strategies; an accomplished author as well, |
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he has written three books, Alive & Kicking, Great Comebacks from |
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Ostomy Surgery, and Embracing Life; and |
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WHEREAS, Rolf Benirschke is not only an inspiration to |
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football fans nationwide but also to patients and their families |
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across the globe, and he is indeed deserving of special recognition |
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for his many good works; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Rolf Benirschke on his success as an |
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athlete and as a health advocate and philanthropist and extend to |
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him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Benirschke as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |