H.R. No. 1705
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The year 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the
dramatic triumph by the Texas Western College men's basketball team
in the final game of the NCAA tournament, and this milestone offers
a welcome opportunity to reflect on the squad's historic national
championship; and
WHEREAS, The Miners basketball team from Texas Western
College, now The University of Texas at El Paso, not only thrilled
its many fans by claiming the title in 1966, it also achieved a
major breakthrough that helped usher in an era of greater equality
in sports; and
WHEREAS, Though the civil rights movement in the United
States had achieved a number of important goals by the mid-1960s,
racial discrimination and segregation still existed in many facets
of American life, including collegiate athletics; that became
starkly clear on March 19, 1966, in College Park, Maryland, when the
Miners matched up against the University of Kentucky in the NCAA
final; in that game, Texas Western became the first program to start
five African American players in a national championship game;
Kentucky, on the other hand, had a roster composed entirely of white
players, and its coach, Adolph Rupp, was opposed to the racial
integration of his team; and
WHEREAS, Led by head coach Don Haskins, Texas Western took an
early lead on its opponent and never looked back, claiming the NCAA
title in a 72-65 victory; in so doing, the Miners shattered the myth
that a multiracial team could not reach the pinnacle of success on
the court; moreover, they helped open the door to new opportunities
for African American players throughout the nation, and their
accomplishment would later be depicted in Glory Road, the book
Coach Haskins wrote about that unforgettable season, as well a film
adaptation of his memoir; and
WHEREAS, The talented and determined players who made up the
1966 Texas Western squad included Jerry Armstrong, Orsten Artis,
Louis Baudoin, Willie Cager, Harry Flournoy, Bobby Joe Hill, David
Lattin, Dick Myers, David Palacio, Togo Railey, Nevil Shed, and
Willie Worsley; and
WHEREAS, The 1966 Texas Western basketball team played an
integral role in promoting the desegregation of college sports
while also becoming the only Texas team to date to win the NCAA
title in men's basketball, and that special moment in Lone Star
sports history is indeed deserving of special recognition; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Texas
Western College basketball team's victory in the NCAA national
championship game; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for The University of Texas at El Paso as an expression of
high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Márquez
Pickett
Moody
González
Blanco
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1705 was adopted by the House on April
23, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House