Bill Text: TX HR265 | 2011 | 82nd Legislature 1st Special | Enrolled
Bill Title: Honoring Terry Ruskowski for his achievements as coach, general manager, and president of the Laredo Bucks hockey team.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-06 - Reported enrolled [HR265 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR265-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 265 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Terry Ruskowski concluded a decade-long tenure as | ||
| head coach of the Laredo Bucks hockey team, as well as his service | ||
| as general manager and president, in 2011, and it is indeed fitting | ||
| to recognize his outstanding accomplishments; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Appointed to lead the team for its inaugural season | ||
| in 2002-2003, "Coach Rosco" immediately guided the players to the | ||
| Central Hockey League playoffs; the following season, the Bucks | ||
| powered through a 21-game winning streak to record the league's | ||
| best regular season record and went on to win the CHL championship | ||
| and take home the President's Cup; after reaching the finals the | ||
| next season, the Bucks were champions once again in 2005-2006, and | ||
| Mr. Ruskowski was named Coach of the Year; under his direction, the | ||
| team won its division five consecutive times and made the finals in | ||
| eight out of the nine seasons that he was coach; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Ruskowski was named president of the franchise | ||
| in 2008 and also took on the role of general manager; he is known to | ||
| be generous and open-hearted, a lively conversationalist, and a | ||
| tireless ambassador for the team and for ice hockey; he gained the | ||
| true affection of Laredo fans with his friendly, approachable | ||
| demeanor and commitment to the community, which included sending | ||
| players to visit hundreds of classrooms to serve as role models and | ||
| to encourage students to stay in school; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A native of Saskatchewan, Mr. Ruskowski was also a | ||
| fan favorite during his 15 years as a professional hockey player; he | ||
| was drafted by the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks in | ||
| 1974 but chose to begin his career with the Houston Aeros, alongside | ||
| the legendary Gordie Howe, who led the team to the World Hockey | ||
| Association AVCO Cup in 1975; highly regarded as an intense and | ||
| fearless competitor with a ferocious work ethic, Mr. Ruskowski | ||
| became one of the top players in WHA history, winning another AVCO | ||
| Cup with the Winnipeg Jets; he played with several NHL teams after | ||
| the leagues merged, serving as captain of the Blackhawks, the Los | ||
| Angeles Kings, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he retired from the | ||
| Minnesota North Stars in 1989; and | ||
| WHEREAS, That same year, he moved into the coaching ranks, | ||
| and before joining the Bucks, he led four minor league hockey teams, | ||
| including the International Hockey League team that was also known | ||
| as the Houston Aeros; he was named United Hockey League Coach of the | ||
| Year in 2000-2001 while with the Knoxville Speed; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Terry Ruskowski has earned the respect, admiration, | ||
| and affection of Bucks fans and countless other Laredo residents, | ||
| and although his presence will be deeply missed, his contributions | ||
| to the community will continue to be appreciated for many years to | ||
| come; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
| Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby honor Terry Ruskowski for | ||
| his achievements as coach, general manager, and president of the | ||
| Laredo Bucks and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued | ||
| success as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his life; and, | ||
| be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Mr. Ruskowski as an expression of high regard by the | ||
| Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Raymond | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 265 was adopted by the House on June | ||
| 28, 2011, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
