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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Tommy Cantrell, a longtime coach and teacher in the |
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Arlington Independent School District, passed away on August 5, |
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2012, at the age of 76, leaving his loved ones to reflect on a life |
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that was rich in meaningful accomplishments; and |
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WHEREAS, Tommy Cantrell was born on June 10, 1936, in Fort |
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Worth to J. M. and Ethelda Cantrell; he graduated in 1954 from North |
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Side High School, where he was a Golden Gloves boxer and three-sport |
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letterman; he accepted a football scholarship to Texas A&M |
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University and, as a freshman, played for legendary Coach Paul |
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"Bear" Bryant; in 1956, he signed to play professional baseball for |
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the Baltimore Orioles and spent five years in the minor leagues |
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before returning to college at Texas Christian University, and he |
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ultimately earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the |
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university; and |
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WHEREAS, After completing his undergraduate studies in 1962, |
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he went to work for the Fort Worth Independent School District, |
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initially teaching and coaching at Trimble Technical High School |
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and then becoming head baseball coach at O. D. Wyatt High School; in |
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1969, he was hired as the head baseball coach at Sam Houston High |
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School in Arlington, beginning his association with the Texans; |
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over the course of the next 26 years, his skillful guidance helped |
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the team collect 11 district and 8 bi-district titles and earned him |
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Coach of the Year honors on nine occasions; this dedicated mentor |
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was masterful at teaching the fundamentals of the game and had a |
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positive and lasting influence on his players, 10 of whom went on to |
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become coaches at the high school, college, or professional level; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Following his retirement in 1994, Coach Cantrell |
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worked for American Airlines and used his leisure time to travel and |
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visit with family and friends; in all of his endeavors, he enjoyed |
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the love and support of his wife, Sharon, with whom he shared 49 |
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rewarding years of marriage, and he took great pride in his son, |
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Clark, and his daughter, Shelley; and |
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WHEREAS, With his expertise and leadership, Tommy Cantrell |
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helped hundreds of students to excel both on and off the field, and |
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he will be a continuing source of inspiration to all those who had |
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the good fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Tommy Cantrell and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Sharon Cantrell; to his son, Clark Cantrell; to his daughter, |
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Shelley Cantrell; to his grandson, Chris Cantrell; and to his other |
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relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Tommy |
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Cantrell. |
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Patrick |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 973 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 27, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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