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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed civic leader and legendary |
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football player drew to a close with the passing of Richard Preston |
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Ritchie on May 11, 2023, at the age of 68; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on May 2, 1955, in Mineral Wells, Richard |
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Ritchie was the son of John and Ann Ritchie; he gained national |
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acclaim on the gridiron during his years at Texas A&I University, |
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compiling a remarkable 39-0 record as the starting quarterback and |
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leading the Javelinas to undefeated seasons in 1974, 1975, and 1976 |
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that yielded three Lone Star Conference crowns and three NAIA |
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Division I championships; named Most Valuable Player of the 1974 |
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NAIA title game, he also garnered the 1975-1976 NAIA and LSC Player |
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of the Year honors; he graduated with a degree in education and |
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kinesiology in 1977, and he later created the Richard Ritchie |
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Endowment in support of the school's athletic programs; he was |
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inducted into the Javelina Hall of Fame, the LSC Hall of Honor, and |
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the College Football Hall of Fame, and he earned the Distinguished |
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Alumni Award for his continuing involvement with the university; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Ritchie went on to serve as an assistant |
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football coach at The University of Texas at Austin, the University |
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of North Texas, and Texas Tech University; after receiving his |
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juris doctor degree from St. Mary's University in 1991, he embarked |
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on his career as an attorney, following the tradition set by four |
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previous generations in his family; he joined his father's |
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practice, the Richard P. Ritchie Law firm in Mineral Wells, and he |
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was a prominent member of the community, serving as an attorney for |
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the Palo Pinto Water District and as a director of the First State |
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Bank of Mineral Wells and the Brazos Foundation; moreover, he was |
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president of the Noon Lions Club and captain of the Palo Pinto |
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County Sheriff's Posse, and he also distinguished himself as a |
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rancher, another occupation long pursued by the members of his |
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family; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Ritchie enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, Penny, his daughters, Leslie Kay and Lacie, |
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and his five grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, While the death of Richard Ritchie brings great |
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sadness to his loved ones, he leaves behind a legacy that will long |
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be treasured by all who held him dear; 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 Richard Preston |
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Ritchie and extend deepest condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Penny Ritchie; to his daughters, Leslie Kay |
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Ritchie Robnett and her husband, Kevin, and Lacie Ritchie Austin |
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and her husband, Matthew; to his grandchildren, Elisha, Cyrus, |
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Arleigh, Sky, and Sydney; and to his other 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 Richard |
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Ritchie. |