| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed civic leader and legendary |
|
|
football player drew to a close with the passing of Richard Preston |
|
|
Ritchie on May 11, 2023, at the age of 68; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born on May 2, 1955, in Mineral Wells, Richard |
|
|
Ritchie was the son of John and Ann Ritchie; he gained national |
|
|
acclaim on the gridiron during his years at Texas A&I University, |
|
|
compiling a remarkable 39-0 record as the starting quarterback and |
|
|
leading the Javelinas to undefeated seasons in 1974, 1975, and 1976 |
|
|
that yielded three Lone Star Conference crowns and three NAIA |
|
|
Division I championships; named Most Valuable Player of the 1974 |
|
|
NAIA title game, he also garnered the 1975-1976 NAIA and LSC Player |
|
|
of the Year honors; he graduated with a degree in education and |
|
|
kinesiology in 1977, and he later created the Richard Ritchie |
|
|
Endowment in support of the school's athletic programs; he was |
|
|
inducted into the Javelina Hall of Fame, the LSC Hall of Honor, and |
|
|
the College Football Hall of Fame, and he earned the Distinguished |
|
|
Alumni Award for his continuing involvement with the university; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Ritchie went on to serve as an assistant |
|
|
football coach at The University of Texas at Austin, the University |
|
|
of North Texas, and Texas Tech University; after receiving his |
|
|
juris doctor degree from St. Mary's University in 1991, he embarked |
|
|
on his career as an attorney, following the tradition set by four |
|
|
previous generations in his family; he joined his father's |
|
|
practice, the Richard P. Ritchie Law firm in Mineral Wells, and he |
|
|
was a prominent member of the community, serving as an attorney for |
|
|
the Palo Pinto Water District and as a director of the First State |
|
|
Bank of Mineral Wells and the Brazos Foundation; moreover, he was |
|
|
president of the Noon Lions Club and captain of the Palo Pinto |
|
|
County Sheriff's Posse, and he also distinguished himself as a |
|
|
rancher, another occupation long pursued by the members of his |
|
|
family; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Ritchie enjoyed the love |
|
|
and support of his wife, Penny, his daughters, Leslie Kay and Lacie, |
|
|
and his five grandchildren; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, While the death of Richard Ritchie brings great |
|
|
sadness to his loved ones, he leaves behind a legacy that will long |
|
|
be treasured by all who held him dear; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Richard Preston |
|
|
Ritchie and extend deepest condolences to the members of his |
|
|
family: to his wife, Penny Ritchie; to his daughters, Leslie Kay |
|
|
Ritchie Robnett and her husband, Kevin, and Lacie Ritchie Austin |
|
|
and her husband, Matthew; to his grandchildren, Elisha, Cyrus, |
|
|
Arleigh, Sky, and Sydney; and to his other relatives and 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 Richard |
|
|
Ritchie. |
| |
|
|
Troxclair |
|
|
Rogers |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 2003 was unanimously adopted by a |
|
|
rising vote of the House on May 18, 2023. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |