Bill Text: TX HR1765 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: In memory of Richard Preston Ritchie.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-15 - Referred to Resolutions Calendars [HR1765 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR1765-Introduced.html
88R30226 CW-D | ||
By: Troxclair | H.R. No. 1765 |
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WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed civic leader and legendary | ||
football player drew to a close with the passing of Richard Preston | ||
Ritchie on May 11, 2023, at the age of 68; and | ||
WHEREAS, Born on May 2, 1955, in Mineral Wells, Richard | ||
Ritchie was the son of John and Ann Ritchie; he gained national | ||
acclaim on the gridiron during his years at Texas A&I University, | ||
compiling a remarkable 39-0 record as the starting quarterback and | ||
leading the Javelinas to undefeated seasons in 1974, 1975, and 1976 | ||
that yielded three Lone Star Conference crowns and three NAIA | ||
Division I championships; named Most Valuable Player of the 1974 | ||
NAIA title game, he also garnered the 1975-1976 NAIA and LSC Player | ||
of the Year honors; he graduated with a degree in education and | ||
kinesiology in 1977, and he later created the Richard Ritchie | ||
Endowment in support of the school's athletic programs; he was | ||
inducted into the Javelina Hall of Fame, the LSC Hall of Honor, and | ||
the College Football Hall of Fame, and he earned the Distinguished | ||
Alumni Award for his continuing involvement with the university; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Ritchie went on to serve as an assistant | ||
football coach at The University of Texas at Austin, the University | ||
of North Texas, and Texas Tech University; after receiving his | ||
juris doctor degree from St. Mary's University in 1991, he embarked | ||
on his career as an attorney, following the tradition set by four | ||
previous generations in his family; he established the Richard P. | ||
Ritchie Law firm in Mineral Wells and was a prominent member of the | ||
community, serving as an attorney for the Palo Pinto Water District | ||
and as a director of the First State Bank of Mineral Wells and the | ||
Brazos Foundation; moreover, he was president of the Noon Lions | ||
Club and captain of the Palo Pinto County Sheriff's Posse, and he | ||
also distinguished himself as a rancher, another occupation long | ||
pursued by the members of his family; and | ||
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Ritchie enjoyed the love | ||
and support of his wife, Penny, his daughters, Leslie Kay and Lacie, | ||
and his five grandchildren; and | ||
WHEREAS, While the death of Richard Ritchie brings great | ||
sadness to his loved ones, he leaves behind a legacy that will long | ||
be treasured by all who held him dear; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Richard Preston | ||
Ritchie and extend deepest condolences to the members of his | ||
family: to his wife, Penny Ritchie; to his daughters, Leslie Kay | ||
Ritchie Robnett and her husband, Kevin, and Lacie Ritchie Austin | ||
and her husband, Matthew; to his grandchildren, Elisha, Cyrus, | ||
Arleigh, Skye, and Sydney; and to his other relatives and 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 Richard | ||
Ritchie. |