H.R. No. 1972
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Sylvia Ferdon, head coach of the Baylor University
women's golf team, is retiring on May 31, 2011, after a notable
career spanning 17 years; and
WHEREAS, Coach Ferdon has guided the program since 1994 and
helped the Lady Bears to attain a new level of prominence as they
became strong contenders for the Big 12 title and regularly earned a
spot in the NCAA regional tournament; and
WHEREAS, A successful player before she entered the coaching
ranks, Sylvia Ferdon was a member of the golf team at the University
of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and has been inducted into that school's
athletic hall of fame; she went on to compete on the Ladies
Professional Golf Association Tour for five years as well as in
other professional events, and she took part in the LPGA
Championship in 1992; in addition to her undergraduate degree, she
holds a master's degree in education from Tarleton State
University; and
WHEREAS, This skilled mentor gained her first experience as a
coach at the University of Florida, where she was an assistant in
1973-1974, and at Florida State University, where she served as
head coach the following year; she has numerous years of experience
as an instructor and has been a Class A member of the LPGA Teaching
and Club Professionals Division since 1990; and
WHEREAS, After being appointed to her position overseeing the
Baylor women's golf program, Coach Ferdon quickly demonstrated her
knack for recruiting quality athletes, and her ability to teach and
inspire led to success on the course; the Lady Bears took part in
the NCAA regionals in 10 of the past 12 years and received the
team's first berth in the NCAA Championship in 2004; moreover, the
squad realized its highest all-time finishes in the Big 12 under her
direction, with numerous players earning conference honors; in
recognition of her fine work, she received the Big 12 Coach of the
Year award in 2000 and 2009; and
WHEREAS, Coach Ferdon has also created an environment that
has helped players to excel in their studies; her athletes have been
named to the Academic All-Big 12 Team 37 times, and the Lady Bears
received awards from the NCAA Division 1 Academic Performance
Program in both 2009 and 2010; and
WHEREAS, Through her knowledge, leadership, and commitment
to excellence, Sylvia Ferdon has enhanced the stature of the Baylor
University women's golf program while serving as a role model to
countless young women; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Sylvia Ferdon on the occasion of her
retirement as head coach of the Baylor University women's golf team
and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Coach Ferdon as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Craddick
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1972 was adopted by the House on May
26, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House