H.R. No. 847
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Former San Antonio Spurs player George "Iceman"
Gervin is celebrating his 65th birthday on April 26, 2017, and this
occasion presents a welcome opportunity to recognize not only his
remarkable athletic achievements but also his stellar record of
service to the Alamo City; and
WHEREAS, Born in 1952, George Gervin played basketball at
Eastern Michigan University, where he tallied a total of 1,044
points and 562 rebounds and gained recognition for his devastating
outside jump shot and his equally adept skills in driving to the
basket, artfully avoiding defenders, and successfully finishing a
play with his trademark finger-roll layup; in honor of his singular
accomplishments, the university retired his jersey in 1986 and
inducted him into the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gervin began his professional career with the
Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association, and during
his four-year tenure in the ABA, he established a reputation as an
unstoppable offensive force on the hardwood and earned All-Star
status three times; he also received the nickname "Iceman" for his
extraordinarily consistent production and on-court demeanor and
his clutch performances when the game was on the line; and
WHEREAS, In 1974, Mr. Gervin was acquired by the San Antonio
Spurs, and after the franchise joined the NBA in 1976, he helped
lead the team to five division titles over nine years; moreover, he
garnered All-Star honors nine consecutive times and received the
Most Valuable Player Award for his outstanding performance in the
1980 All-Star Game; and
WHEREAS, Among the best players to ever don the silver and
black of San Antonio, Mr. Gervin scored a career total of 26,595
points, and today he remains the Spurs' all-time leader in points
per game and ranks among the top five in franchise history in field
goals made and attempted, free throws made, rebounds, assists,
steals, and blocked shots; in addition, he is one of only three
players in league history to win at least four scoring titles, along
with Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, and ranks in the top 50 of
all-time NBA scoring leaders; the Spurs retired his number 44
jersey in December 1987, and he is one of only six San Antonio
players to ever receive that honor; and
WHEREAS, Since his retirement, Mr. Gervin has been accorded a
host of other prestigious accolades; in 1996, he became the first
Spurs player to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball
Hall of Fame, and he was also one of the inaugural inductees of the
San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame and was selected for inclusion in
the Texas Sports Hall of Fame; moreover, he has been named one of
the 50 greatest players in league history by the NBA, earning his
rightful place in a pantheon of basketball legends whose exploits
have helped shape the game they love; and
WHEREAS, Today, Mr. Gervin serves as a community relations
representative with the Spurs, a role in which he devotes
considerable time and energy to speaking at schools, banquets, and
charities, coaching at basketball clinics, and lending his
respected voice to a number of valuable public service
announcements; outside the organization, he has further benefited
the city as the founder of the George Gervin Youth Center, an
institution dedicated to helping educate local kids, assisting
senior citizens with finding quality affordable housing, and
providing young adults with the necessary resources to become
productive members of the community; and
WHEREAS, George Gervin built one of the most storied careers
in Spurs franchise history and has continued to give back to the
local community ever since, and he is indeed deserving of special
recognition; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate George "Iceman" Gervin on his 65th
birthday 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. Gervin as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Gervin-Hawkins
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 847 was adopted by the House on March
23, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House