85R23274 RMA-D
By: Frullo H.R. No. 1538
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost a legendary football coach
with the passing of William Taylor Dykes on April 10, 2017, at the
age of 79; and
WHEREAS, Born in Lubbock on March 14, 1938, "Spike" Dykes
developed a passion for sports at an early age and soon showed
exceptional athletic ability as well, becoming an All-State center
on the Ballinger High School football team; he subsequently played
football at Rice University before transferring to Stephen F.
Austin State University, where he graduated in 1959; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dykes began his coaching career as an assistant
at Eastland and Ballinger High Schools before being named head
coach at Central High School in San Angelo in 1962; he went on to
lead programs at Coahoma, Belton, Big Spring, and Alice High
Schools, and in 1971, he was hired as an assistant coach at The
University of Texas at Austin; following five seasons there, he
worked on the staff at the University of New Mexico and then at
Mississippi State University; in 1980, he assumed the role of head
coach at Lee High School in Midland, where he piloted his squad to
the state finals in 1983; and
WHEREAS, The following year, Mr. Dykes joined the football
program at Texas Tech University as an assistant coach, and he was
promoted to head coach two years later; over the course of 13
seasons, he earned the distinction of becoming the first Tech coach
to appear in seven consecutive bowl games, including the Red
Raiders' All-American Bowl triumph in 1989 and their first Cotton
Bowl appearance in 56 years in 1995; by the time he retired in 1999,
he had garnered the most victories in school history, with an
overall record of 82 wins, 67 losses, and 1 tie; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous honors, Mr. Dykes was
selected as Southwest Conference Coach of the Year three times and
as Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year once; he went on to be
inducted into the Texas Tech Athletics Hall of Honor in 2001 and the
Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2008, and in 2011 he was presented with
a Distinguished Texan Award by the Texas Tech Chapter of the
National Football Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dykes shared more than five decades of marriage
with the love of his life, Sharon, until her passing in 2010; over
the years, the couple were blessed with three children, Rick,
Sonny, and Bebe, and their family eventually grew to include eight
grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Spike Dykes was renowned not only for his
outstanding ability as a coach of the game but also for his
generosity of spirit and his self-deprecating humor, which endeared
him to players, fellow coaches, and fans alike; he had a positive
impact on the many communities in which he worked, and he will
continue to be fondly remembered throughout the Lone Star State and
beyond for decades to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of William Taylor
"Spike" Dykes and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his
family and to all who mourn his passing; 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 William
Taylor "Spike" Dykes.