TITLE: In memory of former Dallas Cowboys player Jethro Pugh.

SUMMARY: In memory of former Dallas Cowboys player Jethro Pugh.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The life of a renowned Texas athlete drew to a close with the passing of former Dallas Cowboy Jethro Pugh on January 7, 2015, at the age of 70; and WHEREAS, Born on July 3, 1944, in Windsor, North Carolina, Jethro Pugh attended Bertie High School and subsequently enrolled at Elizabeth City State University at the age of 16; he distinguished himself as a talented player on both offense and defense for ECSU, earning all-conference honors in 1963 and 1964 for his play as a defensive end; and WHEREAS, Mr. Pugh was selected by Dallas in the 11th round of the 1965 National Football League Draft; one of the original members of the team's vaunted "Doomsday Defense," he anchored the line from his spot at tackle and played a central role in the Cowboys' rise to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s; during his third season, he took part in the legendary 1967 "Ice Bowl" game, when Dallas was narrowly defeated by the Green Bay Packers for the NFL Championship; the determined efforts of Mr. Pugh and his teammates would not be denied, however, and the club would go on to collect five NFC Championships and two Super Bowl titles in the course of his 14-year career; he led Dallas in sacks for five consecutive seasons from 1968 to 1972, and his 95.5 career sacks rank sixth all-time in team history; he retired following the 1978-1979 NFL season, having played in a then-record 23 playoff games; and WHEREAS, After his playing days ended, Mr. Pugh found success as an entrepreneur by opening a gift shop in the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, an enterprise that later grew into a chain of stores; he also found time to give back to others as the founder and namesake of the Jethro Pugh Celebrity Golf Tournament, an annual event in the Dallas area that raises funds for the United Negro College Fund; and WHEREAS, Mr. Pugh's accomplishments were recognized with a number of significant accolades, including selection as an NFL All-Pro player and induction into the CIAA Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the ECSU Sports Hall of Fame, and the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame; and WHEREAS, A superb athlete, a fierce competitor, and a respected businessman, Jethro Pugh excelled on and off the gridiron, and he will be fondly remembered by his family and friends as well as by countless football fans in the Lone Star State and beyond; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Jethro Pugh and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family; 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 Jethro Pugh. Johnson Straus Guillen Otto Allen Gutierrez Paddie Alonzo Harless Parker Alvarado Hernandez Paul Anchia Herrero Pe a Anderson of Dallas Howard Phelan Anderson of McLennan Huberty Phillips Ashby Hughes Pickett Aycock Hunter Price Bell Isaac Raney Blanco Israel Raymond Bohac Johnson Reynolds Bonnen of Brazoria Kacal Riddle Bonnen of Galveston Keffer Rinaldi Burkett Keough Rodriguez of Bexar Burns King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Burrows King of Parker Romero, Jr. Button King of Taylor Rose Canales King of Uvalde Sanford Capriglione Kleinschmidt 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 Guerra Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 131 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on January 14, 2015. Chief Clerk of the House