Bill Text: TX HR445 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of former University of Texas baseball coach Clifford Lincoln Gustafson.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-03-17 - Reported enrolled [HR445 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR445-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 445 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Clifford Lincoln Gustafson, who achieved iconic | ||
| stature as head coach of The University of Texas baseball team, | ||
| passed away on January 2, 2023, at the age of 91; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The son of Elmer and Wendla Gustafson, Cliff | ||
| Gustafson was born in the small community of Cadillac, near Kenedy, | ||
| on February 12, 1931, and he grew up with three siblings, Marvin, | ||
| Ella Mae, and Clarice; he played baseball at San Antonio Harlandale | ||
| High School and at UT, helping lead the Longhorns to the 1952 | ||
| Southwest Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA College | ||
| World Series; after completing his undergraduate studies at UT, he | ||
| earned a master's degree in education from Our Lady of the Lake | ||
| University; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Gustafson competed professionally in the | ||
| Dodgers organization before taking the helm of the South San | ||
| Antonio High School baseball program; during his tenure as head | ||
| coach, he guided the Bobcats to 12 district titles and a record | ||
| seven 3A state championships, and his final team in 1967 notched a | ||
| perfect record; he met his future wife, Janie Davenport, while | ||
| coaching at South San, and they shared 53 happy years of marriage | ||
| until her passing in 2012; the couple raised three children, Jill, | ||
| Deron, and Jann; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1967, Mr. Gustafson moved up to the collegiate | ||
| ranks when he was hired as head coach of the UT baseball team; his | ||
| unique style of coaching became known as "Gusball," and over the | ||
| course of his 29-year career on the 40 Acres, his teams made 17 | ||
| appearances in the College World Series and won two national | ||
| championships; moreover, the Longhorns collected 22 SWC crowns | ||
| under his tutelage, and he racked up a total of 1,466 victories | ||
| against only 377 losses; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Gustafson was twice selected as National Coach | ||
| of the Year, and his accolades also include induction into the Texas | ||
| Athletics Hall of Honor at UT as well as the College Baseball, | ||
| Southwest Conference, Omaha College Baseball, and Texas High School | ||
| Baseball Coaches Association Halls of Fame; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In his later years, Mr. Gustafson married a second | ||
| time, to the former Ann Robinette; he relished the time he spent in | ||
| the company of his loved ones, and he had the pleasure of seeing his | ||
| family grow to include six grandchildren and five | ||
| great-grandchildren; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Renowned for his determined leadership and his | ||
| commitment to the student-athletes he mentored, Cliff Gustafson | ||
| left an indelible mark on the UT baseball program, and his myriad | ||
| achievements will long endure; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Clifford Lincoln | ||
| Gustafson and extend deepest sympathy to his relatives and friends; | ||
| and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of | ||
| Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Coach | ||
| Gustafson. | ||
| Howard | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 445 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on March 16, 2023. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
