H.R. No. 590
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Texas A&M alumnus Dr. Steve O'Neal was inducted into
the American Football Kicking Hall of Fame on January 17, 2013; and
WHEREAS, The American Football Kicking Hall of Fame honors
professional, college, and high school players who have shown
remarkable accomplishments as placekickers or punters in American
football; and
WHEREAS, Born on February 4, 1946, in Hearne, Steve O'Neal
attended high school in that city before enrolling at Texas A&M
University, where for three consecutive years he lettered in
football and track; in 1967, he was the leading punter in the
Southwest Conference and earned All-Conference honors; the
following year, he was again selected for the All-SWC team and
garnered national recognition for his outstanding performance by
being named an All-American; moreover, his memorable play with the
Aggies was later honored with his selection as the punter for the
university's 1960s All-Decade Team; and
WHEREAS, Drafted by the New York Jets in 1969, he was playing
in just his second professional game when he lined up for a kick
while pinned deep in his own end zone; he launched the ball and
watched it travel 75 yards in the air before it hit the turf and
rolled, ultimately ending up on the opponent's one-yard line; the
kick broke the old NFL record set in 1931, and the total distance of
98 yards still stands as the longest punt in pro football history;
and
WHEREAS, Over the course of his five-year professional
career, during which he played for the New Orleans Saints in
addition to the Jets, Steve O'Neal punted for more than 13,700 yards
while recording an average of 40.7 yards per kick; when his career
was cut short by a knee injury, he left the game and enrolled at the
University of Tennessee; he earned a degree in dentistry in 1974 and
returned to Texas to establish a practice; and
WHEREAS, With his notable success at the collegiate and
professional levels and his record-breaking performance as a rookie
in the National Football League, Steve O'Neal has contributed to
the Lone Star State's tradition of athletic excellence, and he is
indeed deserving of this lasting tribute to his achievements; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Steve O'Neal on his induction into
the American Football Kicking Hall of Fame and extend to him sincere
best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. O'Neal as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Raney
Kacal
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 590 was adopted by the House on March
13, 2013, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House