H.R. No. 826
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Emmitt Thomas received a fitting tribute for his
singular football career, both as a player and a coach, in 2016,
when he was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame and
the Black College Football Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Born on June 3, 1943, Emmitt Thomas first
established himself as a multitalented athlete at Marshall High
School in Angleton, where he competed on the football, basketball,
and baseball teams; he later played quarterback and wide receiver
for three years at Bishop College, and in 1966, he signed with the
Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas spent his entire 13-year NFL playing
career as a cornerback for the Chiefs, and along the way, he
cemented his place in the pantheon of the league's all-time greats;
he appeared in Super Bowl I in 1967 in a loss against the Green Bay
Packers, and he helped return the team to the championship game in
1970, where it clinched the Super Bowl IV title over the Minnesota
Vikings; in addition, the defensive juggernaut was selected to the
Pro Bowl five times and earned All-Pro First Team and Second Team
honors three times each; upon his retirement in 1978, his career
total of 58 interceptions represented a franchise record; and
WHEREAS, This notable Texan went on to build a second storied
NFL career as a coach; he worked as a wide receivers and tight ends
coach for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1981 to 1985 and then as a
secondary coach for the Washington Redskins for nine seasons,
during which he helped guide the team to victories in Super Bowls
XXII and XXVI; he later enjoyed stints as a defensive coordinator
with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Green Bay Packers, and the
Minnesota Vikings; he was hired as an assistant coach by the Atlanta
Falcons in 2002, and eight years later, he returned to the Kansas
City Chiefs as a defensive backs coach, a position he continues to
hold to this day; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of a professional career spanning
half a century, Mr. Thomas has been accorded a host of prestigious
honors; he was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1986, the
Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in
2009, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and Kansas City
has retired his number 18 jersey; and
WHEREAS, Among the most prominent and enduring figures in NFL
history, Emmitt Thomas has inspired generations of football fans
across the Lone Star State and beyond, and it is indeed a pleasure
to commemorate these well-deserved hall of fame honors; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Emmitt Thomas on his induction into
both the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame and the Black College
Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2016 and extend to
him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Thomas as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Bonnen of Brazoria
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 826 was adopted by the House on March
23, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House