Bill Text: TX HR171 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulating Jack Burke, Jr., on receiving the 2011 William D. Richardson Award from the Golf Writers Association of America.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-01-25 - Reported enrolled [HR171 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR171-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 171 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Texas golf legend Jack Burke, Jr., has been named | ||
| the winner of the 2011 William D. Richardson Award by the Golf | ||
| Writers Association of America, in recognition of his outstanding | ||
| contributions to the sport; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in Fort Worth in 1923, Jack Burke began | ||
| learning the game at age seven, tutored by his father, who was the | ||
| pro at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston; Mr. Burke became a | ||
| club pro himself at age 18 but put his career on hold to serve in the | ||
| U.S. Marine Corps during World War II; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In the years following the war, professional golf | ||
| was initially dominated by older players, but Mr. Burke changed | ||
| that, winning four PGA tournaments in 1950 at the age of 27; two | ||
| years later, he won four consecutive tournaments and went on to | ||
| compile a career total of 16 victories, including first-place | ||
| finishes in both the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship in | ||
| 1956; he played on the American Ryder Cup team throughout the 1950s, | ||
| was its nonplaying captain in 1973, and served as a special | ||
| assistant to the team captain in 2004; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Burke's prominent role in the game has extended | ||
| beyond his stellar performances on the course; in 1957, he and | ||
| another well-known Texas golfer, Jimmy Demaret, opened the | ||
| Champions Golf Club in Houston; through the years, the club has | ||
| hosted the Ryder Cup, the U.S. Open, and the U.S. Amateur | ||
| Championship in addition to numerous other tournaments; Mr. Burke | ||
| has also served as a coach to younger PGA players, including current | ||
| star Phil Mickelson; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Widely admired by his peers, Mr. Burke has been | ||
| inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, the PGA Hall of Fame, the | ||
| Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Texas Golf Hall of Fame; | ||
| moreover, he received the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in | ||
| 2003 and the United States Golf Association Bob Jones Award in 2004; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, The William D. Richardson Award is yet another | ||
| well-deserved accolade for Jack Burke; this esteemed Texan has | ||
| inspired generations of players with his skill, determination, and | ||
| knowledge of the sport, and his achievements have furthered the | ||
| rich golfing tradition of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby congratulate Jack Burke, Jr., on receiving the | ||
| 2011 William D. Richardson Award from the Golf Writers Association | ||
| of America and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued | ||
| happiness; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Mr. Burke as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
| House of Representatives. | ||
| Harless | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 171 was adopted by the House on | ||
| January 24, 2011, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
