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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 567
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In Memory |
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of |
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John Wesley Jones II |
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WHEREAS, Sports fans in the Lone Star State and beyond are |
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mourning the loss of Johnny "Lam" Jones on March 15, 2019, at the |
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age of 60; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, on April 4, 1958, John |
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Wesley Jones II moved to Texas with his family during his youth |
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and distinguished himself as a track star and an All-State |
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running back for the Lampasas High School Badgers; by the age of |
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18, he was sprinting world-class times, and he gained |
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widespread recognition with his legendary performance at the |
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1976 state track meet; after winning the 100-yard and 220-yard |
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dashes, he closed a gap of more than 40 yards during the anchor |
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leg of the mile relay, passing the entire field and inspiring |
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the crowd to swarm the track in excitement; the relay victory |
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clinched the team championship for Lampasas High, and Mr. Jones |
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would later reflect on that accomplishment as one of the most |
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exciting experiences of his life; and |
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WHEREAS, Later that summer, Mr. Jones competed in the 1976 |
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Summer Olympics in Montreal, becoming the youngest athlete from |
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Texas to ever earn a berth on the United States track and field |
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team; he won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the 4x100 relay |
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team, which set a world record with a time of 38.33 seconds, and |
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he also competed in the 100-yard dash, finishing sixth; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Jones went on to a stellar career at The |
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University of Texas at Austin; he ran track his freshman year, |
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winning four events at the 1977 Southwest Conference meet and |
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setting UT track records at 100 yards, 100 meters, and 220 yards; |
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on the gridiron, he first played running back and then wide |
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receiver for the Longhorns, earning All-American and |
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All-Southwest Conference honors as well as the team Most Valuable |
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Player award in 1978; it was during his time on the 40 Acres that |
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he first became known as "Lam" Jones, a nickname bestowed by |
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football head coach Darrell Royal in reference to Mr. Jones' |
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hometown of Lampasas; and |
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WHEREAS, A highly touted NFL prospect, this skilled |
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athlete was drafted by the New York Jets in 1980 and signed the |
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first contract worth more than a million dollars in league |
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history; his pro career spanned eight years, but injuries |
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limited his performance and playing time with the Jets, and he |
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retired in 1987 after brief stints with the San Francisco 49ers |
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and Dallas Cowboys; and |
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WHEREAS, In recent decades, Mr. Jones dedicated himself to |
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educating youth on the dangers of drugs and alcohol; he also |
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became involved in the Lay Witnesses for Christ sports ministry, |
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and he was a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics; in |
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recognition of his remarkable athletic accomplishments, he was |
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inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, The University of |
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Texas Athletics Hall of Honor, the Texas High School Football |
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Hall of Fame, and the Lampasas Football Hall of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, Widely considered one of the greatest athletes |
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in Texas history, Lam Jones remains a source of great pride to |
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the residents of Lampasas, and his many achievements will |
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continue to be remembered and admired for years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Johnny Lam Jones |
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and extend sincere condolences to his relatives and friends; and, |
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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 Senate adjourns |
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this day, it do so in memory of Johnny Lam Jones. |
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Buckingham |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 11, 2019, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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Member, Texas Senate |