84R4510 WG-D
By: Clardy H.R. No. 130
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The passing of Dr. James Edward Swink of Rusk on
December 3, 2014, at the age of 78, has brought a great loss to his
family, his friends, and the community that he so proudly called
home; and
WHEREAS, Born in Sacul on March 14, 1936, to Curtis and Allie
Mae Swink, Jim Swink was a standout performer on the Rusk High
School football and basketball teams; he gained All-District and
All-State recognition for his athletic talents, and after
graduating from Rusk High in 1953, he enrolled at Texas Christian
University on a football scholarship; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan continued his fine play at the
collegiate level, earning the moniker "the Rusk Rambler" as he led
TCU to consecutive conference championships and Cotton Bowl
appearances; he was an Academic All-American and All-Southwest
Conference player for the Horned Frogs, and he finished as the
runner-up for the prestigious Heisman Trophy after an impressive
1955 season in which he led the nation in scoring and was second in
rushing; though he was drafted by the Chicago Bears after
graduating from TCU, he chose to forgo professional football to
pursue a medical career, but he later returned to the field briefly
as a member of the Dallas Texans of the American Football League;
and
WHEREAS, Following his graduation from The University of
Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dr. Swink practiced medicine in
Tyler for three years and then answered his nation's call to duty as
a member of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War; he served as a
medic and rose to the rank of captain, and he was honored for his
dedicated service with both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star
Medal; after leaving the military and completing his residency, he
moved to the Fort Worth area and enjoyed a successful 35-year tenure
as an orthopedic surgeon; he retired from that practice in 2006 and
returned home to Rusk, but he later put his medical expertise to
work by serving as a member of the staff at the Rusk State Hospital
medical clinic from 2009 to 2014; and
WHEREAS, Widely admired for his achievements, Dr. Swink was
the recipient of a multitude of accolades, including the Doak
Walker Legends Award and induction into the College Football Hall
of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Southwest Conference
Hall of Fame, and the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame; he was designated an
Outstanding Texan by the Rusk Industrial Foundation for his many
contributions to the local community, and one of his proudest
moments came in October 2014, when the Rusk High School football
field was renamed in his honor; and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Swink enjoyed the love and
support of his wife, Jeanie, and he took great pride in his
children, Jed, Dan, and Charlie, as well as his two grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, An accomplished athlete, a respected medical
professional, and a caring husband and father, Jim Swink excelled
in all of those roles, and he will always be remembered with great
admiration and affection by all those who were privileged to know
him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. James Edward
Swink and extend deepest condolences to the members of his family:
to his wife, Jeanie Swink; to his sons, Jed, Dan, and Charlie Swink;
to his grandchildren, Sam Swink and Heather Eiland and her husband,
Clay; to his great-grandchildren, Sophia and Theodore Eiland; to
his sisters, Mary Crump, Wilene Shuptrine, Vera English, and Ann
Phillips and her husband, George; to his brother, Joe Swink; and to
his other relatives and many friends; 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 Dr. James
Edward Swink.