TITLE: In memory of Andrew Lee Higgins of Houston.

SUMMARY: In memory of Andrew Lee Higgins of Houston.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Andrew Lee Higgins, a longtime coach and teacher in the Houston Independent School District, passed away on November 2, 2014, at the age of 68, leaving his loved ones to treasure a life that was rich in meaningful accomplishments; and WHEREAS, Mr. Higgins was born to Columbus and Cleopatra Higgins on May 28, 1946, in Brazoria; the 10th of 13 children, he grew up in a small farming community known as Higgins Settlement, near Sweeny, Texas; Mr. Higgins was an accomplished athlete at George Washington Carver High School, where he earned All-State honors as a member of the school's football team; after finishing high school, he continued to play football at Wharton Junior College and then at Texas Southern University; he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education at TSU and later returned to the university to complete a master's degree in the same field; and WHEREAS, While in college, Andrew Higgins met the love of his life, Verlinda Joyce Gabriel, and they exchanged the vows of matrimony on December 4, 1971, after a whirlwind romance; the couple shared a rewarding marriage that spanned nearly 43 years, and they became the proud parents of four children, Andrea, Andrew, Ashley, and Angela; Mr. Higgins also experienced the joy of welcoming six grandchildren into his cherished family; and WHEREAS, Andrew Higgins taught and coached at Northwood Middle School in the North Forest Independent School District before joining the Houston ISD; he went on to coach baseball and football at Westbury, Sterling, and Worthing High Schools and to lead several of his teams to district championships; dedicated to his students, he continued to work even after receiving a leukemia diagnosis in 2004, though health concerns ultimately caused him to retire after a sterling 37-year career; and WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman was active in a number of worthwhile organizations and causes in the Bayou City; he volunteered his time as a precinct chair and precinct judge for Precinct 140 and served as a delegate to state and national Democratic conventions; moreover, he was a valued congregant of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, which he joined in 1966, and he served as a member of the church's Courtesy Corps and as a scoutmaster for its Boy Scout troop; he was also a member of the Texas Coaches Association, Riverside Terrace Civic Club, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; and WHEREAS, Andrew Higgins lived a full and generous life centered on his family, his students, and his community, and he will long be remembered with deep affection by all those who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Andrew Lee Higgins and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Verlinda Higgins; to his children, Andrea Simon and her husband, Ramon, Andrew Higgins and his wife, Wendy, Ashley Higgins, and Angela Redding and her husband, Nathan; to his grandchildren, Symone, Sydney, and Ryan Simon, Brisa and Sofia Higgins, and James Redding; to his siblings, Stratton Higgins and his wife, Thelma, Carrie Sneed, Jerry Higgins Sr. and his wife, Jean, Travis Higgins and his wife, Erma, Polly Cooper and her husband, Ernest, Geneva Shannon, Priscilla Wilkins, Lannis Higgins, and Lola Newman and her husband, Calvin; to his mother-in-law, Dicy Bolivar; 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 Andrew Lee Higgins. Miles Straus Guerra Otto Allen Guillen Paddie Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul Anchia Hernandez Pe a Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Ashby Huberty Pickett Aycock Hughes Price Bell Hunter Raney Blanco Isaac Raymond Bohac Israel Reynolds Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Button King of Parker Rose Canales King of Taylor Sanford Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Clardy Klick Schofield Coleman Koop Shaheen Collier Krause Sheets Cook Kuempel Sheffield Craddick Landgraf Simmons Crownover Larson Simpson Dale Laubenberg Smith Darby Leach Smithee Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Dukes M rquez Stickland Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Fallon Men ndez Turner of Collin Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles VanDeaver Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White of Bell Galindo Mu oz, Jr. White of Tyler Geren Murphy Workman Giddings Murr Wray Goldman Naishtat Wu Gonzales Nev rez Zedler Gonz lez Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 391 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on February 11, 2015. Chief Clerk of the House