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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost a legendary football coach |
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with the passing of William Taylor Dykes on April 10, 2017, at the |
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age of 79; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Lubbock on March 14, 1938, "Spike" Dykes |
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developed a passion for sports at an early age and soon showed |
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exceptional athletic ability as well, becoming an All-State center |
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on the Ballinger High School football team; he subsequently played |
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football at Rice University before transferring to Stephen F. |
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Austin State University, where he graduated in 1959; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Dykes began his coaching career as an assistant |
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at Eastland and Ballinger High Schools before being named head |
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coach at Central High School in San Angelo in 1962; he went on to |
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lead programs at Coahoma, Belton, Big Spring, and Alice High |
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Schools, and in 1971, he was hired as an assistant coach at The |
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University of Texas at Austin; following five seasons there, he |
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worked on the staff at the University of New Mexico and then at |
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Mississippi State University; in 1980, he assumed the role of head |
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coach at Lee High School in Midland, where he piloted his squad to |
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the state finals in 1983; and |
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WHEREAS, The following year, Mr. Dykes joined the football |
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program at Texas Tech University as an assistant coach, and he was |
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promoted to head coach two years later; over the course of 13 |
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seasons, he earned the distinction of becoming the first Tech coach |
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to appear in seven consecutive bowl games, including the Red |
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Raiders' All-American Bowl triumph in 1989 and their first Cotton |
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Bowl appearance in 56 years in 1995; by the time he retired in 1999, |
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he had garnered the most victories in school history, with an |
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overall record of 82 wins, 67 losses, and 1 tie; and |
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WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous honors, Mr. Dykes was |
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selected as Southwest Conference Coach of the Year three times and |
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as Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year once; he went on to be |
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inducted into the Texas Tech Athletics Hall of Honor in 2001 and the |
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Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2008, and in 2011 he was presented with |
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a Distinguished Texan Award by the Texas Tech Chapter of the |
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National Football Foundation; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Dykes shared more than five decades of marriage |
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with the love of his life, Sharon, until her passing in 2010; over |
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the years, the couple were blessed with three children, Rick, |
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Sonny, and Bebe, and their family eventually grew to include eight |
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grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Spike Dykes was renowned not only for his |
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outstanding ability as a coach of the game but also for his |
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generosity of spirit and his self-deprecating humor, which endeared |
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him to players, fellow coaches, and fans alike; he had a positive |
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impact on the many communities in which he worked, and he will |
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continue to be fondly remembered throughout the Lone Star State and |
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beyond for decades to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of William Taylor |
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"Spike" Dykes and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his |
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family and to all who mourn his passing; 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 William |
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Taylor "Spike" Dykes. |
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Frullo |
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Burrows |
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Darby |
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Craddick |
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Roberts |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1538 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 4, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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