| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 1077 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The untimely passing of former Olympic track athlete |
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| 6 | 6 | | Eric Thomas of Houston on December 30, 2022, at the age of 49, |
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| 7 | 7 | | brought a heartbreaking loss to his family, friends, and |
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| 8 | 8 | | colleagues; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Eric Thomas was born on December 1, 1973, in |
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| 10 | 10 | | Garrison and grew up with the company of five siblings; following |
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| 11 | 11 | | his father's death, his mother raised the children on her own, and |
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| 12 | 12 | | she instilled in Eric a work ethic that would come to define his |
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| 13 | 13 | | life; a standout athlete at Garrison High School, he was awarded |
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| 14 | 14 | | track and football scholarships from Blinn College; his exceptional |
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| 15 | 15 | | ability as a hurdler became evident as a freshman, and the next |
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| 16 | 16 | | year, he set a National Junior College Athletic Association track |
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| 17 | 17 | | record in the 400-meter hurdles; he went on to earn All-American |
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| 18 | 18 | | track honors at Abilene Christian University; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, One of the top-ranked 400-meter hurdlers in the |
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| 20 | 20 | | world from 1993 through 2003, Mr. Thomas was a U.S. champion, and he |
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| 21 | 21 | | claimed a top-15 finish at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, |
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| 22 | 22 | | Australia; moreover, he collected two silver medals at the Pan |
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| 23 | 23 | | American Games; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Following his retirement from track competition, |
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| 25 | 25 | | Mr. Thomas remained actively involved in the sport, founding |
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| 26 | 26 | | Houston-based Champion Trainers in 2005 and conducting sports camps |
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| 27 | 27 | | in Garrison; dedicated to improving the health and fitness of Texas |
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| 28 | 28 | | youth, he established the Eric Thomas Foundation, which provides |
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| 29 | 29 | | scholarships and support to individuals in underserved |
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| 30 | 30 | | communities; he further distinguished himself by creating the |
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| 31 | 31 | | Hurdling Over Obesity and Diabetes program; his generosity and |
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| 32 | 32 | | civic engagement were widely appreciated, and he was beloved by |
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| 33 | 33 | | numerous people in Texans and around the globe; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, A humble hometown hero who gained international |
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| 35 | 35 | | acclaim, Eric Thomas inspired countless track fans and competitors, |
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| 36 | 36 | | and his many achievements will continue to be remembered and |
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| 37 | 37 | | admired for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 39 | 39 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Eric Thomas and |
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| 40 | 40 | | extend deepest condolences to all who mourn his passing; and, be it |
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| 41 | 41 | | further |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 43 | 43 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 44 | 44 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Eric |
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| 45 | 45 | | Thomas. |
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| 46 | 46 | | Clardy |
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| 47 | 47 | | ______________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 49 | 49 | | I certify that H.R. No. 1077 was unanimously adopted by a |
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| 50 | 50 | | rising vote of the House on April 20, 2023. |
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| 51 | 51 | | ______________________________ |
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| 52 | 52 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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