H.R. No. 2276
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The buddies and volunteers who take part in the
Miracle League of Austin are making positive and lasting
contributions to their community; and
WHEREAS, The Miracle League, a program of the Town and
Country Optimist Club, offers special needs children between the
ages of 4 and 19 the opportunity to enjoy the fun and excitement of
playing baseball; the participants get to be a part of a team while
playing in two-inning games that last approximately one hour, and
every person gets to bat and score in each inning; the seven-game
seasons are held in the fall and spring and are played on The Round
Rock Express Miracle Field, which was specially designed to safely
accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and other equipment; the players
receive the assistance of at least one buddy, a volunteer who is
assigned to protect and assist them in all aspects of the game;
buddies are typically area middle and high school students between
the ages of 12 and 18 who contribute their time on Saturdays to
support the league's players; other volunteers help coordinate the
buddies and manage league activities; and
WHEREAS, The first Miracle League was formed in Rockdale
County, Georgia, in 1998, and in the spring of 2006, Steve Brown, a
member of the Town and Country Optimist Club's board of directors,
and Adam Weisberg, a local restaurateur, began working to bring the
concept to Austin; Mr. Brown and Mr. Weisberg enlisted the aid of
countless volunteers and benefactors from within their community to
make the league a reality; the Optimist club provided the land, and
a major fund-raising campaign began to secure the $500,000 needed
to build the specialized field; and
WHEREAS, The fund-raising campaign was a great success, and
the Miracle League received enthusiastic support from many
businesses, including the Round Rock Express and the Nolan Ryan
Foundation; among the individuals who also supported the effort
were architect Michael Antenora, who designed the facility, Reed
Seaton, owner of Hellas Construction, who contributed to the
construction of the site, and Dave Fendrick, currently president of
the Round Rock Express, who played an integral role in getting the
baseball club and the foundation to donate $250,000 for the naming
rights to the field; their generous sponsorship led to its
successful construction; and
WHEREAS, The Miracle League began playing in 2006 on existing
softball fields until The Round Rock Express Miracle Field opened
for play in fall 2007; since beginning with 2 teams of 23 players,
31 buddies, and 7 volunteers, the league has grown to include 12
teams of 180 players, more than 240 buddies, and over 40 volunteers;
and
WHEREAS, Through the Miracle League of Austin, countless
special needs children have been able to participate in America's
pastime, and this experience has brought immeasurable joy to the
players, their parents, and the buddies and volunteers; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby commend the buddies and volunteers of the
Miracle League at Town and Country and extend to all those
associated with the league sincere best wishes for continued
success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Miracle League of Austin as an expression of high
regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Gonzales of Williamson
Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr. Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Allen Gooden Murphy Allen Gooden Murphy
Allen Gooden Murphy
Alonzo Guillen Naishtat Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
Alvarado Gutierrez Nash Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
Anchia Hamilton Oliveira Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
Aycock Harless Parker Aycock Harless Parker
Aycock Harless Parker
Beck Harper-Brown Patrick Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
Berman Hartnett Paxton Berman Hartnett Paxton
Berman Hartnett Paxton
Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
Bonnen Hilderbran Perry Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
Branch Hochberg Phillips Branch Hochberg Phillips
Branch Hochberg Phillips
Brown Hopson Pickett Brown Hopson Pickett
Brown Hopson Pickett
Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burnam Howard of Travis Price Burnam Howard of Travis Price
Burnam Howard of Travis Price
Button Huberty Quintanilla Button Huberty Quintanilla
Button Huberty Quintanilla
Cain Hughes Raymond Cain Hughes Raymond
Cain Hughes Raymond
Callegari Hunter Reynolds Callegari Hunter Reynolds
Callegari Hunter Reynolds
Carter Isaac Riddle Carter Isaac Riddle
Carter Isaac Riddle
Castro Jackson Ritter Castro Jackson Ritter
Castro Jackson Ritter
Chisum Johnson Rodriguez Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
Christian Keffer Schwertner Christian Keffer Schwertner
Christian Keffer Schwertner
Coleman King of Parker Scott Coleman King of Parker Scott
Coleman King of Parker Scott
Cook King of Taylor Sheets Cook King of Taylor Sheets
Cook King of Taylor Sheets
Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
Deshotel Lavender Strama Deshotel Lavender Strama
Deshotel Lavender Strama
Driver Legler Taylor of Collin Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dutton Lozano Thompson Dutton Lozano Thompson
Dutton Lozano Thompson
Eiland Lucio III Torres Eiland Lucio III Torres
Eiland Lucio III Torres
Eissler Lyne Truitt Eissler Lyne Truitt
Eissler Lyne Truitt
Elkins Madden Turner Elkins Madden Turner
Elkins Madden Turner
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Margo Villarreal Farrar Margo Villarreal
Farrar Margo Villarreal
Fletcher Marquez Vo Fletcher Marquez Vo
Fletcher Marquez Vo
Flynn Martinez Walle Flynn Martinez Walle
Flynn Martinez Walle
Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
Gallego McClendon White Gallego McClendon White
Gallego McClendon White
Garza Menendez Woolley Garza Menendez Woolley
Garza Menendez Woolley
Geren Miles Workman Geren Miles Workman
Geren Miles Workman
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2276 was adopted by the House on May 26,
2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Allen Gooden Murphy
Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
Aycock Harless Parker
Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
Berman Hartnett Paxton
Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
Branch Hochberg Phillips
Brown Hopson Pickett
Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burnam Howard of Travis Price
Button Huberty Quintanilla
Cain Hughes Raymond
Callegari Hunter Reynolds
Carter Isaac Riddle
Castro Jackson Ritter
Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
Christian Keffer Schwertner
Coleman King of Parker Scott
Cook King of Taylor Sheets
Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
Deshotel Lavender Strama
Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dutton Lozano Thompson
Eiland Lucio III Torres
Eissler Lyne Truitt
Elkins Madden Turner
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Margo Villarreal
Fletcher Marquez Vo
Flynn Martinez Walle
Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
Gallego McClendon White
Garza Menendez Woolley
Geren Miles Workman
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas