H.R. No. 1249
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The death of auto racing legend Lloyd Ruby on March
23, 2009, at the age of 81, has deeply saddened his many fans across
the country and brought a great loss to the family and friends of
this beloved Texan; and
WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Wichita Falls, Richard Lloyd
Ruby was born on January 12, 1928, to Walter and Roxie Ruby; he
started racing midget cars as a teenager and then proudly served his
country in the United States Army; on his birthday in 1954, he
married the former Peggy Harris, and the couple later became the
parents of two children; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ruby excelled at long-distance road racing,
winning seven United States Auto Club championships; he was a key
member of Ford Motor Company's international racing effort and
shared the winning car in the 1965 Daytona Continental, as well as
in the renowned 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring
endurance races in 1966; and
WHEREAS, Between 1960 and 1977, Mr. Ruby competed in 18
consecutive Indianapolis 500 races, and was repeatedly a strong
contender, though victory eluded him; he led the field in five Indy
races between 1966 and 1971, only to be thwarted by mechanical
problems or other mishaps; his hard luck never seemed to faze him,
however, and even after a heartbreaking pit stop incident that took
him out of a comfortable lead in 1969, he merely remarked that
"maybe I wasn't supposed to win"; though he never finished higher
than third, he nonetheless became a hero to countless fans and
younger drivers such as Bobby Unser, one of the many to name Mr.
Ruby as "the greatest driver who never won the 500"; and
WHEREAS, Unassuming and quiet, yet unfailingly warm and
friendly, he became one of the most popular drivers of his era; he
loved his fans as much as they loved him, and he always took the time
to talk and joke with them; he was greatly admired by his peers in
the racing industry as well, and when a Wichita Falls overpass was
named in his honor, Indy 500 winners Al and Bobby Unser, Johnny
Rutherford, and Parnelli Jones all traveled to attend the ceremony
and help him celebrate; and
WHEREAS, The Indianapolis 500 Hall of Fame inducted Mr. Ruby
in 1991 and gave him its prestigious Louis Meyer Award in 2008; in
addition, he was a member of the Indy 500 Old Timers Club, the
Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, and the Texas Motor Speedway Hall
of Fame; no accolade altered his humble demeanor, and he remained
close to old schoolmates and childhood friends throughout his life;
a member of organizations such as the Mavericks, the Lions Club, and
the Texas Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, he assisted
without fanfare in myriad philanthropic events in Wichita Falls and
frequently shared his formidable talent as a barbecue cook at
church functions; and
WHEREAS, A fierce yet gracious competitor, Lloyd Ruby gave
racing fans years of excitement, and he will long be remembered for
his kindness and good humor as well as for his extraordinary skill
on the racetrack; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Lloyd Ruby and extend
sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Peggy
Ruby; to his son, John Ruby, and his wife, Pam; to his daughter,
Mary Ann Brasher, and her husband, Phil; to his grandchildren,
Tyler, Paige, and Allison Ruby, and Luke and Bo Brasher; to his
brother, Herman Ruby; and to his other relatives and his many
friends and admirers; 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 Lloyd Ruby.
Farabee
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1249 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 23, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House