86R7813 JGH-D

By: Dutton H.R. No. 82

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Memories of a life well lived may help to comfort those saddened by the passing of Walter Yates Sr. on January 2, 2019, at the age of 78; and

WHEREAS, Walter Yates was born on July 6, 1940, in Shepherd to Douglas and Girty Yates, and he grew up with eight siblings, Leola, Ann, Guy, Harold, Samuel, Lee, David, and Gwen; when he was seven, the family moved to Houston, where he later became a varsity basketball player for Phillis Wheatley High School, helping the team win three state championships; he went on to attend Pan American College on a full athletic scholarship, and he played on the college's 1963 NAIA championship team; and

WHEREAS, After graduating, Mr. Yates worked at Pan American as an assistant coach until 1966, when he was hired to teach and coach at E. O. Smith Junior High in Houston; two years later, he helped integrate the Houston Independent School District by becoming the first African American head coach at a predominantly white school, Northside High, and he spent 17 years there; he went on to take the head coaching job at Madison High in 1985, and he returned to the Fifth Ward in 1996 to teach and coach at Kashmere High School, remaining a member of the faculty until his retirement in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of his 42-year career, Coach Yates won an impressive total of 997 games, but he took his greatest satisfaction from serving as a mentor and father figure to his athletes; he was also a man of profound religious faith, attending Yale Street Baptist Church since 1976 and serving as a deacon for more than 30 years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Yates shared a loving relationship with his wife, Mary Louise Yates, that spanned 54 years, and he was the proud father of three children, Alisa Yates Boutte, Walter Yates Jr., and his adopted son, Calvin Rice Sr.; later in life, he saw his family grow to include eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, A devoted family man and an inspiring educator and coach, Walter Yates lived a rich and purposeful life, and he will forever be remembered with deep affection by all those who had the good fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Walter Yates Sr. and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and his many friends; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Walter Yates Sr.