Bill Text: TX HR130 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Dr. James Edward Swink of Rusk.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-02-20 - Reported enrolled [HR130 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR130-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 130 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The passing of Dr. James Edward Swink of Rusk on | ||
| December 3, 2014, at the age of 78, has brought a great loss to his | ||
| family, his friends, and the community that he so proudly called | ||
| home; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in Sacul on March 14, 1936, to Curtis and Allie | ||
| Mae Swink, Jim Swink was a standout performer on the Rusk High | ||
| School football and basketball teams; he gained All-District and | ||
| All-State recognition for his athletic talents, and after | ||
| graduating from Rusk High in 1953, he enrolled at Texas Christian | ||
| University on a football scholarship; and | ||
| WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan continued his fine play at the | ||
| collegiate level, earning the moniker "the Rusk Rambler" as he led | ||
| TCU to consecutive conference championships and Cotton Bowl | ||
| appearances; he was an Academic All-American and All-Southwest | ||
| Conference player for the Horned Frogs, and he finished as the | ||
| runner-up for the prestigious Heisman Trophy after an impressive | ||
| 1955 season in which he led the nation in scoring and was second in | ||
| rushing; though he was drafted by the Chicago Bears after | ||
| graduating from TCU, he chose to forgo professional football to | ||
| pursue a medical career, but he later returned to the field briefly | ||
| as a member of the Dallas Texans of the American Football League; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Following his graduation from The University of | ||
| Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dr. Swink practiced medicine in | ||
| Tyler for three years and then answered his nation's call to duty as | ||
| a member of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War; he served as a | ||
| medic and rose to the rank of captain, and he was honored for his | ||
| dedicated service with both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star | ||
| Medal; after leaving the military and completing his residency, he | ||
| moved to the Fort Worth area and enjoyed a successful 35-year tenure | ||
| as an orthopedic surgeon; he retired from that practice in 2006 and | ||
| returned home to Rusk, but he later put his medical expertise to | ||
| work by serving as a member of the staff at the Rusk State Hospital | ||
| medical clinic from 2009 to 2014; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Widely admired for his achievements, Dr. Swink was | ||
| the recipient of a multitude of accolades, including the Doak | ||
| Walker Legends Award and induction into the College Football Hall | ||
| of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Southwest Conference | ||
| Hall of Fame, and the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame; he was designated an | ||
| Outstanding Texan by the Rusk Industrial Foundation for his many | ||
| contributions to the local community, and one of his proudest | ||
| moments came in October 2014, when the Rusk High School football | ||
| field was renamed in his honor; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Swink enjoyed the love and | ||
| support of his wife, Jeanie, and he took great pride in his | ||
| children, Jed, Dan, and Charlie, as well as his two grandchildren | ||
| and two great-grandchildren; and | ||
| WHEREAS, An accomplished athlete, a respected medical | ||
| professional, and a caring husband and father, Jim Swink excelled | ||
| in all of those roles, and he will always be remembered with great | ||
| admiration and affection by all those who were privileged to know | ||
| him; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. James Edward | ||
| Swink and extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: | ||
| to his wife, Jeanie Swink; to his sons, Jed, Dan, and Charlie Swink; | ||
| to his grandchildren, Sam Swink and Heather Eiland and her husband, | ||
| Clay; to his great-grandchildren, Sophia and Theodore Eiland; to | ||
| his sisters, Mary Crump, Wilene Shuptrine, Vera English, and Ann | ||
| Phillips and her husband, George; to his brother, Joe Swink; and to | ||
| his other relatives and many 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 Dr. James | ||
| Edward Swink. | ||
| Clardy | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 130 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on February 19, 2015. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
