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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of a venerated coach drew to a close with |
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the passing of Bob Patterson on May 15, 2017, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of New Jersey, Bob Patterson graduated from |
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Penns Grove High School in Carneys Point, where he lettered on the |
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football, basketball, baseball, and track teams and received the |
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1950 William J. Miles Award for Outstanding High School Athlete; he |
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then attended the University of Tennessee on a football scholarship |
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for two seasons, and while there, he was part of the 1951 national |
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championship team; he subsequently transferred to Memphis State |
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University in 1953, and he earned All-American honors for two |
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consecutive years as well as Most Valuable Player and Outstanding |
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Player of the Year Awards before graduating in 1955; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Patterson, known to many by the nickname |
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"Punkin," joined the University of Southwestern Louisiana as an |
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assistant football coach in 1958; he subsequently served on the |
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coaching staff at Memphis State from 1961 to 1963 and at Vanderbilt |
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University from 1963 to 1974 before moving to Texas Tech University |
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in 1975; at Tech, he served as a defensive line coach and |
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administrative assistant on the staffs of legendary head coaches |
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Steve Sloan and Rex Dockery, and he helped guide the 1976 Red |
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Raiders team to a fifth-place national ranking during the season |
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and an overall record of 10 wins and 2 losses; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1981, Mr. Patterson returned to Memphis State as |
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athletic director and assistant football coach, and he later served |
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as a defensive line coach for the Memphis Showboats of the U.S. |
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Football League before retiring in 1986; he went on to work as a |
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part-time NFL scout for the New England Patriots, the New York Jets, |
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and the Baltimore Ravens; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his many accomplishments, |
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Mr. Patterson was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, |
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the University of Memphis M Club Hall of Fame, and the Penns Grove |
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High School Athletic Hall of Fame, in addition to being selected to |
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the UofM All-Time Tiger Team; moreover, he was presented with the |
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2016 Zinn Volunteer of the Year Award by the AutoZone Liberty Bowl |
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and a Lifetime Achievement Award by the All-American Football |
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Foundation; and |
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WHEREAS, Bob Patterson was renowned not only for his |
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exceptional skills as a coach but also for his generosity of spirit, |
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his hearty laugh, and his easygoing manner, all of which endeared |
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him to players, fellow coaches, and fans alike; he had a positive |
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impact on the many communities in which he worked, and he will |
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continue to be fondly remembered across the Lone Star State and |
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beyond for years to come; 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 Bob Patterson and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and many friends; and, be it |
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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 Bob |
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Patterson. |
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Burrows |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2521 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 28, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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