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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Over the course of an outstanding career that has |
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spanned more than a half century, Winfred A. Simmons has greatly |
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distinguished himself as an athletics coach at schools in East |
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Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Simmons first began working as a coach in 1966 |
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at Ralph Bunche High School in Crockett; he held various positions |
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with the basketball, football, and track programs, helping the |
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school to win state championships in basketball and track as well as |
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several district titles; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1974, he took a job in the Lufkin Independent |
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School District, where he continues to work today; after serving as |
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an assistant football coach and head basketball coach at Junior |
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High East for four years, Mr. Simmons joined the staff at Lufkin |
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High School in 1977; in the decades since, he has been an integral |
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part of Panther athletics, coaching young competitors in numerous |
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sports; and |
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WHEREAS, In football, Coach Simmons has been part of the |
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Panthers' gridiron program for 40 years, serving as an assistant |
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for the varsity team and as head coach and assistant coach for the |
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junior varsity squad; in basketball, he was an assistant with the |
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boys' team, including during the Panthers' state championship |
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season in 1979, and head coach of the girls' team from 2006 to 2014, |
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when Lufkin made seven playoff appearances and advanced as far as |
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the regional finals; moreover, he has served as head coach of the |
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boys' and girls' track teams and the powerlifting team and has been |
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an assistant coach in both sports as well; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his achievements at Lufkin High, |
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Coach Simmons guided football, basketball, and track teams at the |
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junior high level from 1996 to 2006, and his athletes collected |
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numerous district titles; throughout his career, he has also |
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frequently taken on the responsibility of driving the van or bus for |
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away games; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his dedication and leadership, Winfred |
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Simmons has been an inspiring mentor and role model to generations |
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of young athletes, and he is indeed deserving of recognition for his |
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exceptional record of service; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Winfred A. Simmons for his contributions |
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as a school athletics coach and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Coach Simmons as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |