SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 685
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 university's
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 National
Basketball Association 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 Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
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 a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
Mr. Gervin as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
Menéndez, Campbell,
Uresti, Zaffirini
Bettencourt Hinojosa Perry Bettencourt Hinojosa Perry
Bettencourt Hinojosa Perry
Birdwell Huffines Rodríguez Birdwell Huffines Rodríguez
Birdwell Huffines Rodríguez
Buckingham Huffman Schwertner Buckingham Huffman Schwertner
Buckingham Huffman Schwertner
Burton Hughes Seliger Burton Hughes Seliger
Burton Hughes Seliger
Creighton Kolkhorst Taylor of Collin Creighton Kolkhorst Taylor of Collin
Creighton Kolkhorst Taylor of Collin
Estes Lucio Taylor of Galveston Estes Lucio Taylor of Galveston
Estes Lucio Taylor of Galveston
Garcia Miles Watson Garcia Miles Watson
Garcia Miles Watson
Hall Nelson West Hall Nelson West
Hall Nelson West
Hancock Nichols Whitmire Hancock Nichols Whitmire
Hancock Nichols Whitmire
Patrick, President of the Senate
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on April 26, 2017.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
Bettencourt Hinojosa Perry
Birdwell Huffines Rodríguez
Buckingham Huffman Schwertner
Burton Hughes Seliger
Creighton Kolkhorst Taylor of Collin
Estes Lucio Taylor of Galveston
Garcia Miles Watson
Hall Nelson West
Hancock Nichols Whitmire