[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 131 (Wednesday, September 16, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORABLE RECOGNITION OF COACH ROCKY RAWLS, BRONTE, TEXAS 2009 NATIONAL 
                       COACHES APPRECIATION WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2009

  Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National 
Coaches Appreciation Week and to acknowledge the accomplishments and 
dedication of one coach in particular: Coach Rocky Rawls of Bronte, 
Texas.
  Coach Rawls has been coaching in Bronte, Texas for the past 26 years. 
After growing up in Dimmitt, Texas and playing basketball for the late 
Kenneth Cleveland, Coach Rawls grew to love the game of basketball and 
decided to make it his career. He graduated from Dimmitt High School in 
1978. He then went to Howard Junior College in Big Spring, Texas to 
play basketball for the Hawks. After 2 years in Big Spring, Coach Rawls 
left for Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas to finish out his 
college education, and, of course, to play ball. He graduated from 
Southwestern University in May of 1983. Just months after his 
graduation from college the superintendent of Bronte High School gave 
Rocky a call and offered him a position as head basketball coach. The 
rest, as they say, is history.
  This past season Coach Rawls accomplished a feat few basketball 
coaches accomplish at any level. He earned his 500th career victory 
against Bronte's rival, Robert Lee. Even more impressive is the fact 
that Coach Rawls has won all 500 games at one school. Bronte has been 
his home his entire coaching career.
  This past season, Coach Rawls helped the Bronte Longhorns go 25-3 and 
finish the season ranked sixth in the state, also sweeping eventual 
state champion Roscoe throughout the season. Subsequently, Coach Rawls 
was deservingly named Coach of the Year by the San Angelo Standard 
Times.
  Coach Rawls and his wife, Terri, have 3 sons. Logan, a student at 
Angelo State University, and twins Dakota and Kerwin, now juniors at 
Bronte High School, have all played ball for their dad. Bronte has been 
the home of a long and successful career for Coach Rocky Rawls, who 
after winning 500 ballgames I hear thinks it just might be a great 
place to stay and win 500 more. Asked when he might retire, Coach Rawls 
has joked that ``not until they ask me to coach girls,'' which after 
also stepping in as head football and boys track coach at various 
times, happens to be the only thing he hasn't coached at Bronte.
  Coach Rawls has instilled invaluable leadership skills in the many 
students who have called him ``Coach.'' He has incorporated the 
important values of self-discipline and perseverance into every 
practice, and ensured that the beliefs and conduct they learn on the 
court becomes a part of their daily lives as well. By example, Coach 
Rawls has instilled the importance of faith, family and community in 
the many lives he has touched throughout his years in Bronte. It is my 
great pleasure to extend my personal congratulations to Coach Rawls on 
his remarkable achievement of 500 victories, as well as express my 
sincere respect and appreciation for the positive impact he has had on 
the lives of many of the boys from Bronte, Texas. As an educator and a 
coach, he has had a hand in molding so many of them into men we can all 
be proud of.
  Madam Speaker, I myself, as a former athlete in both high school and 
college recognize that we owe men and women like Rocky Rawls a great 
debt of gratitude. On behalf of current, former and future student 
athletes, whose lives will forever be founded in the ideals and work 
ethics of competitive athletics, I say, ``Thank you.''

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