TITLE: Honoring Rolf Benirschke for his achievements as an NFL player and as a health advocate and philanthropist.

SUMMARY: Honoring Rolf Benirschke for his achievements as an NFL player and as a health advocate and philanthropist.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Former NFL placekicker Rolf Benirschke built a legacy of achievement in his years as a player, and he has further distinguished himself through his courageous efforts to overcome serious health issues and to work in behalf of others who face similar challenges; and WHEREAS, A native of Boston, Mr. Benirschke played football at the University of California, Davis, before being selected in the 12th round of the 1977 NFL Draft; he made his professional debut for the San Diego Chargers later that year, and he went on to spend his entire decade-long career with that franchise; during his tenure, he tallied an impressive total of 328 extra points and 146 field goals and earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors; and WHEREAS, Mr. Benirschke's accomplishments are all the more impressive given that he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in his second NFL season; he overcame that life-threatening ailment to once again excel on the gridiron, and his comeback was recognized with numerous awards; he later battled hepatitis C, having contracted the virus from a blood transfusion, and he underwent extensive treatment to ultimately be cured of that potentially deadly disease; and WHEREAS, Motivated by his personal experiences, Mr. Benirschke has spent more than three and a half decades supporting patients who live with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, colorectal and bladder cancer, and other circumstances that can lead to ostomy surgery; he has served as a national spokesperson for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, which presented him with a Modell Award for Business Leadership, and has raised over $1 million to find a cure for inflammatory bowel disease; and WHEREAS, Mr. Benirschke has also collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Liver Foundation, and other organizations that raise awareness of hepatitis C; moreover, he created the Rolf Benirschke Legacy Foundation and the patient support program Kick Hep C, and he cofounded Legacy Health Strategies; an accomplished author as well, he has written three books, Alive & Kicking,Great Comebacks from Ostomy Surgery,and Embracing Life;and WHEREAS, Rolf Benirschke is not only an inspiration to football fans nationwide but also to patients and their families across the globe, and he is indeed deserving of special recognition for his many good works; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby honor Rolf Benirschke on his success as an athlete and as a health advocate and philanthropist and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Benirschke as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Fallon Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 781 was adopted by the House on March 8, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House