H.R. No. 781
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Former NFL placekicker Rolf Benirschke built a
legacy of achievement in his years as a player, and he has further
distinguished himself through his courageous efforts to overcome
serious health issues and to work in behalf of others who face
similar challenges; and
WHEREAS, A native of Boston, Mr. Benirschke played football
at the University of California, Davis, before being selected in
the 12th round of the 1977 NFL Draft; he made his professional debut
for the San Diego Chargers later that year, and he went on to spend
his entire decade-long career with that franchise; during his
tenure, he tallied an impressive total of 328 extra points and 146
field goals and earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Benirschke's accomplishments are all the more
impressive given that he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in
his second NFL season; he overcame that life-threatening ailment to
once again excel on the gridiron, and his comeback was recognized
with numerous awards; he later battled hepatitis C, having
contracted the virus from a blood transfusion, and he underwent
extensive treatment to ultimately be cured of that potentially
deadly disease; and
WHEREAS, Motivated by his personal experiences,
Mr. Benirschke has spent more than three and a half decades
supporting patients who live with Crohn's disease, ulcerative
colitis, colorectal and bladder cancer, and other circumstances
that can lead to ostomy surgery; he has served as a national
spokesperson for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, which
presented him with a Modell Award for Business Leadership, and has
raised over $1 million to find a cure for inflammatory bowel
disease; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Benirschke has also collaborated with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Liver
Foundation, and other organizations that raise awareness of
hepatitis C; moreover, he created the Rolf Benirschke Legacy
Foundation and the patient support program Kick Hep C, and he
cofounded Legacy Health Strategies; an accomplished author as well,
he has written three books, Alive & Kicking, Great Comebacks from
Ostomy Surgery, and Embracing Life; and
WHEREAS, Rolf Benirschke is not only an inspiration to
football fans nationwide but also to patients and their families
across the globe, and he is indeed deserving of special recognition
for his many good works; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby honor Rolf Benirschke on his success as an
athlete and as a health advocate and philanthropist and extend to
him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Benirschke as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Fallon
Straus Goldman Oliverson Straus Goldman Oliverson
Straus Goldman Oliverson
Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
Alvarado Gooden Parker Alvarado Gooden Parker
Alvarado Gooden Parker
Anchia Guerra Paul Anchia Guerra Paul
Anchia Guerra Paul
Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
Arévalo Hefner Phillips Arévalo Hefner Phillips
Arévalo Hefner Phillips
Ashby Hernandez Pickett Ashby Hernandez Pickett
Ashby Hernandez Pickett
Bailes Herrero Price Bailes Herrero Price
Bailes Herrero Price
Bell Hinojosa Raney Bell Hinojosa Raney
Bell Hinojosa Raney
Bernal Holland Raymond Bernal Holland Raymond
Bernal Holland Raymond
Biedermann Howard Reynolds Biedermann Howard Reynolds
Biedermann Howard Reynolds
Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
Bohac Hunter Roberts Bohac Hunter Roberts
Bohac Hunter Roberts
Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
Burrows Kacal Sanford Burrows Kacal Sanford
Burrows Kacal Sanford
Button Keough Schaefer Button Keough Schaefer
Button Keough Schaefer
Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
Canales King of Parker Schubert Canales King of Parker Schubert
Canales King of Parker Schubert
Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
Clardy Klick Sheffield Clardy Klick Sheffield
Clardy Klick Sheffield
Coleman Koop Shine Coleman Koop Shine
Coleman Koop Shine
Collier Krause Simmons Collier Krause Simmons
Collier Krause Simmons
Cook Kuempel Smithee Cook Kuempel Smithee
Cook Kuempel Smithee
Cortez Lambert Springer Cortez Lambert Springer
Cortez Lambert Springer
Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
Craddick Lang Stickland Craddick Lang Stickland
Craddick Lang Stickland
Cyrier Larson Stucky Cyrier Larson Stucky
Cyrier Larson Stucky
Dale Laubenberg Swanson Dale Laubenberg Swanson
Dale Laubenberg Swanson
Darby Leach Thierry Darby Leach Thierry
Darby Leach Thierry
Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
Deshotel Martinez Turner Deshotel Martinez Turner
Deshotel Martinez Turner
Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dukes Metcalf Uresti
Dukes Metcalf Uresti
Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
Elkins Miller Villalba Elkins Miller Villalba
Elkins Miller Villalba
Faircloth Minjarez Vo Faircloth Minjarez Vo
Faircloth Minjarez Vo
Fallon Moody Walle Fallon Moody Walle
Fallon Moody Walle
Farrar Morrison White Farrar Morrison White
Farrar Morrison White
Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
Frank Murphy Workman Frank Murphy Workman
Frank Murphy Workman
Frullo Murr Wray Frullo Murr Wray
Frullo Murr Wray
Geren Neave Wu Geren Neave Wu
Geren Neave Wu
Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Giddings Oliveira Zerwas
Giddings Oliveira Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 781 was adopted by the House on March 8,
2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus Goldman Oliverson
Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
Alvarado Gooden Parker
Anchia Guerra Paul
Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
Arévalo Hefner Phillips
Ashby Hernandez Pickett
Bailes Herrero Price
Bell Hinojosa Raney
Bernal Holland Raymond
Biedermann Howard Reynolds
Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
Bohac Hunter Roberts
Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
Burrows Kacal Sanford
Button Keough Schaefer
Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
Canales King of Parker Schubert
Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
Clardy Klick Sheffield
Coleman Koop Shine
Collier Krause Simmons
Cook Kuempel Smithee
Cortez Lambert Springer
Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
Craddick Lang Stickland
Cyrier Larson Stucky
Dale Laubenberg Swanson
Darby Leach Thierry
Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
Deshotel Martinez Turner
Dukes Metcalf Uresti
Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
Elkins Miller Villalba
Faircloth Minjarez Vo
Fallon Moody Walle
Farrar Morrison White
Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
Frank Murphy Workman
Frullo Murr Wray
Geren Neave Wu
Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
Giddings Oliveira Zerwas