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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize Delmer W. Harris for his September 2022 induction into |
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the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and for a lifetime of |
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achievement as a player, coach, and executive; and |
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WHEREAS, We recognize that Coach Del Harris joined the |
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Houston Rockets organization as an assistant coach in 1976, became |
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head coach in 1979, and took the team to the playoffs in his debut |
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campaign; that set the stage for the 1980-1981 season, when Houston |
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defeated the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers two games to |
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one and the heavily favored San Antonio Spurs four games to three in |
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the opening rounds of the playoffs; then, on April 29, 1981, the |
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Rockets defeated the Kansas City Kings four games to one in the |
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Western Conference Finals; with that triumph, the Rockets advanced |
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to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history; Harris |
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took on two more NBA head coaching jobs, leading the Milwaukee Bucks |
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from 1988 through 1992 and the Los Angeles Lakers from 1995 through |
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1999, and he was selected as the 1995 NBA Coach of the Year; along |
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the way, he mentored legends such as Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes, |
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Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant while directing his teams to 556 |
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career victories and 11 postseason appearances in 14 seasons; and |
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WHEREAS, Coach Harris spent more than three decades in the |
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NBA, including 13 years as an assistant coach, and while serving in |
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that capacity with the Dallas Mavericks, he helped the team advance |
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to the 2006 NBA Finals against Miami; and |
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WHEREAS, Coach Harris would later join the Texas Legends |
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developmental league and at age 74 became the oldest head coach in |
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the history of the NBA system; he is still affiliated with the Texas |
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Legends as Vice President; and |
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WHEREAS, Prior to becoming an NBA head coach, Delmer W. |
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Harris was an All-Conference and All-American basketball player at |
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Milligan University; he went on to join the coaching ranks and |
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worked in a variety of capacities, including overseeing the Earlham |
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College basketball program for nine years, coaching teams |
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internationally, and serving as an assistant for the Utah Stars in |
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the American Basketball Association; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his many accomplishments in the |
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sport of basketball, he was honored with the 2020 Chuck Daly |
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Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches |
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Association; moreover, he is a renowned clinician and lecturer who |
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has authored numerous articles and books; and |
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WHEREAS, As his Naismith Hall-of-Fame bio reads, Coach Harris |
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is an "innovator and a believer, a man of faith who stayed true to |
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basketball's most fundamental principles while adapting the game to |
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fit his personnel"; and |
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WHEREAS, As a resident of Frisco, Del Harris has given back to |
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the community through his involvement with the Del and Ann Harris |
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Foundation for the Promotion of Christian Principles; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2023, the Houston Rockets are celebrating the |
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42nd anniversary of their inaugural appearance in the NBA Finals in |
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1981, and the Dallas Mavericks are celebrating the 17th anniversary |
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of their inaugural appearance in the NBA Finals in 2006, and this |
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occasion offers a particularly fitting opportunity to pay tribute |
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to Coach Harris for his role with two Texas NBA franchises and to |
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salute the other highlights of his career; and |
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WHEREAS, Through a lifetime of achievement, Del Harris has |
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left an indelible mark on the sport of basketball, and it is indeed |
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a pleasure to join in recognizing this revered coach and mentor; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby honor Delmer W. Harris for helping the Houston Rockets and |
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Dallas Mavericks advance to the NBA Finals and for his many other |
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contributions to the sport of basketball; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Coach Del Harris as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas Senate. |