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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life well lived may help to comfort |
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those saddened by the passing of Walter Yates Sr. on January 2, |
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2019, at the age of 78; and |
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WHEREAS, Walter Yates was born on July 6, 1940, in Shepherd to |
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Douglas and Girty Yates, and he grew up with eight siblings, Leola, |
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Ann, Guy, Harold, Samuel, Lee, David, and Gwen; when he was seven, |
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the family moved to Houston, where he later became a varsity |
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basketball player for Phillis Wheatley High School, helping the |
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team win three state championships; he went on to attend Pan |
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American College on a full athletic scholarship, and he played on |
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the college's 1963 NAIA championship team; and |
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WHEREAS, After graduating, Mr. Yates worked at Pan American |
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as an assistant coach until 1966, when he was hired to teach and |
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coach at E. O. Smith Junior High in Houston; two years later, he |
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helped integrate the Houston Independent School District by |
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becoming the first African American head coach at a predominantly |
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white school, Northside High, and he spent 17 years there; he went |
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on to take the head coaching job at Madison High in 1985, and he |
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returned to the Fifth Ward in 1996 to teach and coach at Kashmere |
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High School, remaining a member of the faculty until his retirement |
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in 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his 42-year career, Coach Yates |
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won an impressive total of 997 games, but he took his greatest |
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satisfaction from serving as a mentor and father figure to his |
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athletes; he was also a man of profound religious faith, attending |
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Yale Street Baptist Church since 1976 and serving as a deacon for |
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more than 30 years; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Yates shared a loving relationship with his |
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wife, Mary Louise Yates, that spanned 54 years, and he was the proud |
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father of three children, Alisa Yates Boutte, Walter Yates Jr., and |
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his adopted son, Calvin Rice Sr.; later in life, he saw his family |
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grow to include eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and an inspiring educator and |
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coach, Walter Yates lived a rich and purposeful life, and he will |
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forever be remembered with deep affection by all those who had the |
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good fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Walter Yates Sr. and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and his many friends; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Walter |
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Yates Sr. |
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Dutton |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 82 was unanimously adopted by a rising |
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vote of the House on March 6, 2019. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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