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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of a legendary athletic director drew to a |
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close with the passing of Homer B. Johnson of Garland on March 17, |
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2021, at the age of 93; and |
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WHEREAS, Homer Johnson was born on November 28, 1927, to |
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J. M. and Ruby Johnson, and grew up in Garland with a sister, Nancy; |
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he graduated in 1945 from Garland High School, where he was a member |
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of the football, basketball, and baseball teams, and he went on to |
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play football at Texas A&M University and the University of North |
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Texas; he received a bachelor's degree from UNT and a master's |
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degree from East Texas State University; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1948, Mr. Johnson embarked on his career in |
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school athletics when he became an assistant football coach at his |
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high school alma mater; he took a leave of absence in 1950 to serve |
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for three years with the U.S. Army during the Korean War and then |
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returned to the sidelines at Garland High, ultimately serving as |
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the team's head coach in the late 1950s and early 1960s; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was appointed in 1963 as the inaugural |
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athletic director for the Garland Independent School District; |
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among his many accomplishments, he launched the first girls' |
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athletic program in Garland and oversaw the district's other |
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efforts to expand access to sports activities following passage of |
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Title IX in 1972; moreover, he managed school athletics during an |
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era of rapid growth that included the opening of numerous high |
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schools and other campuses; he retired in 2016, drawing to a close |
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an exceptional career with Garland ISD that encompassed nearly |
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seven decades; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his exemplary achievements, |
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Mr. Johnson was inducted into the Garland Sports Hall of Fame, the |
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Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Halls of Honor of the Texas High |
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School Coaches Association and the Texas High School Athletic |
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Directors Association; in 1978, Garland Memorial Stadium was |
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renamed Homer B. Johnson Stadium in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the decades, Mr. Johnson enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, Billie, and the couple shared a rewarding |
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union that spanned 57 years before her passing in 2008; he took |
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great pride in his son, Joc, in his granddaughter, Andrea, and in |
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his great-grandsons, Josh, Keyshawn, and Kobe; and |
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WHEREAS, A highly respected role model and mentor, Homer |
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Johnson made a positive difference in the lives of countless |
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students, coaches, and educators, and he leaves behind a legacy |
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that will resonate in the Garland community for years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Homer B. Johnson and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to all who mourn his passing; 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 Homer |
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Johnson. |
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Bowers |
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Neave |
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Button |
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Ramos |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 517 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on April 9, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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