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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Tony Harper retired as head coach of the boys' |
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basketball team at Cathedral High School in El Paso at the end of |
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the 2024-2025 season, drawing to a close an exceptional career in |
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the coaching ranks that spanned nearly six decades; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of El Paso, Tony Harper lettered in |
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basketball, baseball, and football at Austin High School, and he |
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played basketball at Texas Western College, learning the |
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intricacies of the game under Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of |
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Fame coach Don Haskins; in 1968, at the age of 22, he began his |
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career as a junior varsity coach at El Paso Burges High School, and |
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he went on to serve as head coach for 14 years; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1985, Coach Harper took the helm of the program at |
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El Paso High School; following his five years there, he became the |
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inaugural coach at El Paso Montwood High School; he enjoyed great |
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success during his 23-year tenure with the Rams, guiding his squads |
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on playoff runs that reached the finals and semifinals of the |
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University Interscholastic League regional tournament; prior to |
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his departure in 2013, the school's basketball facility was renamed |
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Tony Harper Gymnasium in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Staying in El Paso for the final stop of his |
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legendary career, Coach Harper took the reins of the Cathedral |
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boys' basketball team at the start of the 2013-2014 campaign; once |
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again quickly establishing a winning culture, he led the Irish to |
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the final four of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial |
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Schools state playoffs in his debut year with the school; in his |
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last game on February 11, 2025, he directed Cathedral to a 59-33 |
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triumph over Lydia Patterson Institute, recording his 1,159th |
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all-time career victory; and |
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WHEREAS, Widely respected, Coach Harper is a 2018 inductee of |
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the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame; additionally, he was |
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recognized as the 2013 National High School Coaches Association |
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National High School Boys' Basketball Coach of the Year and the 2012 |
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UIL Texas High School Basketball Coach of the Year; and |
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WHEREAS, Coach Harper has served as an inspiring mentor and |
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role model to countless El Paso student-athletes, and he may indeed |
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reflect with pride on his myriad accomplishments as he embarks on |
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the next exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Tony Harper on his retirement as |
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head coach of the Cathedral High School boys' basketball team and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes 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 Harper as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |