Bill Text: TX HR2521 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of former Texas Tech University assistant football coach Bob Patterson.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-31 - Reported enrolled [HR2521 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR2521-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 2521 |
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WHEREAS, The life of a venerated coach drew to a close with | ||
the passing of Bob Patterson on May 15, 2017, at the age of 84; and | ||
WHEREAS, A native of New Jersey, Bob Patterson graduated from | ||
Penns Grove High School in Carneys Point, where he lettered on the | ||
football, basketball, baseball, and track teams and received the | ||
1950 William J. Miles Award for Outstanding High School Athlete; he | ||
then attended the University of Tennessee on a football scholarship | ||
for two seasons, and while there, he was part of the 1951 national | ||
championship team; he subsequently transferred to Memphis State | ||
University in 1953, and he earned All-American honors for two | ||
consecutive years as well as Most Valuable Player and Outstanding | ||
Player of the Year Awards before graduating in 1955; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Patterson, known to many by the nickname | ||
"Punkin," joined the University of Southwestern Louisiana as an | ||
assistant football coach in 1958; he subsequently served on the | ||
coaching staff at Memphis State from 1961 to 1963 and at Vanderbilt | ||
University from 1963 to 1974 before moving to Texas Tech University | ||
in 1975; at Tech, he served as a defensive line coach and | ||
administrative assistant on the staffs of legendary head coaches | ||
Steve Sloan and Rex Dockery, and he helped guide the 1976 Red | ||
Raiders team to a fifth-place national ranking during the season | ||
and an overall record of 10 wins and 2 losses; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1981, Mr. Patterson returned to Memphis State as | ||
athletic director and assistant football coach, and he later served | ||
as a defensive line coach for the Memphis Showboats of the U.S. | ||
Football League before retiring in 1986; he went on to work as a | ||
part-time NFL scout for the New England Patriots, the New York Jets, | ||
and the Baltimore Ravens; and | ||
WHEREAS, In recognition of his many accomplishments, | ||
Mr. Patterson was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, | ||
the University of Memphis M Club Hall of Fame, and the Penns Grove | ||
High School Athletic Hall of Fame, in addition to being selected to | ||
the UofM All-Time Tiger Team; moreover, he was presented with the | ||
2016 Zinn Volunteer of the Year Award by the AutoZone Liberty Bowl | ||
and a Lifetime Achievement Award by the All-American Football | ||
Foundation; and | ||
WHEREAS, Bob Patterson was renowned not only for his | ||
exceptional skills as a coach but also for his generosity of spirit, | ||
his hearty laugh, and his easygoing manner, all of which endeared | ||
him to players, fellow coaches, and fans alike; he had a positive | ||
impact on the many communities in which he worked, and he will | ||
continue to be fondly remembered across the Lone Star State and | ||
beyond for years to come; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Bob Patterson and | ||
extend heartfelt sympathy to his family 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 Bob | ||
Patterson. | ||
Burrows | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 2521 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
rising vote of the House on May 28, 2017. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||