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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Clifford Lincoln Gustafson, who achieved iconic |
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stature as head coach of The University of Texas baseball team, |
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passed away on January 2, 2023, at the age of 91; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Elmer and Wendla Gustafson, Cliff |
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Gustafson was born in the small community of Cadillac, near Kenedy, |
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on February 12, 1931, and he grew up with three siblings, Marvin, |
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Ella Mae, and Clarice; he played baseball at San Antonio Harlandale |
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High School and at UT, helping lead the Longhorns to the 1952 |
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Southwest Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA College |
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World Series; after completing his undergraduate studies at UT, he |
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earned a master's degree in education from Our Lady of the Lake |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gustafson competed professionally in the |
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Dodgers organization before taking the helm of the South San |
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Antonio High School baseball program; during his tenure as head |
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coach, he guided the Bobcats to 12 district titles and a record |
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seven 3A state championships, and his final team in 1967 notched a |
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perfect record; he met his future wife, Janie Davenport, while |
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coaching at South San, and they shared 53 happy years of marriage |
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until her passing in 2012; the couple raised three children, Jill, |
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Deron, and Jann; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1967, Mr. Gustafson moved up to the collegiate |
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ranks when he was hired as head coach of the UT baseball team; his |
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unique style of coaching became known as "Gusball," and over the |
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course of his 29-year career on the 40 Acres, his teams made 17 |
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appearances in the College World Series and won two national |
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championships; moreover, the Longhorns collected 22 SWC crowns |
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under his tutelage, and he racked up a total of 1,466 victories |
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against only 377 losses; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gustafson was twice selected as National Coach |
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of the Year, and his accolades also include induction into the Texas |
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Athletics Hall of Honor at UT as well as the College Baseball, |
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Southwest Conference, Omaha College Baseball, and Texas High School |
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Baseball Coaches Association Halls of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, In his later years, Mr. Gustafson married a second |
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time, to the former Ann Robinette; he relished the time he spent in |
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the company of his loved ones, and he had the pleasure of seeing his |
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family grow to include six grandchildren and five |
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great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Renowned for his determined leadership and his |
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commitment to the student-athletes he mentored, Cliff Gustafson |
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left an indelible mark on the UT baseball program, and his myriad |
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achievements will long endure; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Clifford Lincoln |
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Gustafson and extend deepest sympathy to his relatives and friends; |
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and, 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 House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Coach |
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Gustafson. |
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Howard |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 445 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 16, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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