[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 11, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE GILMER HIGH SCHOOL BUCKEYES, 2014 4-A, DIV II STATE 
                           FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOUIE GOHMERT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2015

  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to 
acknowledge and congratulate the superb performance of the Gilmer High 
School Buckeyes as they came together as a team resulting in their 
winning the 2014 Texas State 4-A, Div II Football Championship. The 
Gilmer Buckeyes displayed great resilience and commitment throughout 
their season, and it is indeed an honor to bring these outstanding 
athletes to national attention and retention in our national record.
   After the devastating, unexpected death of a beloved member of the 
team last year, the Buckeyes and the entire Gilmer community pledged to 
preserve the memory of Desmond Pollard by honoring him throughout the 
season. Residents of east Texas generously paid tribute to Desmond by 
raising funds to pay for all his funeral expenses. So much money was 
donated and accumulated that it not only paid for the service, but 
there was also enough to establish a memorial scholarship fund in 
Desmond's name.
   The Buckeyes carried Desmond's memory onto the field with them 
before every game by taking his jersey to midfield for every coin toss. 
This honorable group of young men created and adopted ``DEZign8'' as 
the team motto to pay tribute to Desmond throughout the season by 
combining his name with his team jersey number, #8. The motto was based 
on the belief that the team was ``DEZign8''-ed to be tested, and to 
overcome any challenges in order to emerge victorious.
   When the Buckeyes began the third quarter of the state championship 
game, they trailed West Orange-Stark 25-7. The Buckeyes recognized the 
daunting task before them, but they were not about to give up. Instead, 
every player reached deep inside themselves, and reinvigorated their 
strength, skill and commitment to such an incredible level that the 
Buckeyes became virtually unstoppable, scoring four more touchdowns, 
overtaking the Mustangs, while shutting down their vaunted opponent's 
powerful offense, and capturing the state title with a final score of 
35-25. This amazing team of caring, committed, yet crushing Buckeyes 
were successful in achieving their objective. They were victorious in 
honoring their fallen teammate with an entire season of success 
resulting in the State Championship in honor of Desmond. Ultimately, 
the Buckeyes finished the season with a perfect, undefeated record of 
16-0, and the honor of finishing with the second-highest point total in 
a season in Texas high school football history with 950 points.
   Special commendations must be offered to each member of this 
exceptional company of young men. The team includes: Blevin Burns, 
Devin Smith, McLane Carter, DeMarco Boyd, Quinn Fluellen, Jamel 
Jackson, Desmond Pollard, Blake Lynch, Zac Spears, Preston Smith, 
Kollin Hurt, Brandon Crouch, Ryen Lawhorn, Tanner Harrison, Taylor 
Lofton, Desmond Jones, Cameron Bowman, Nick Smith, Cambron Granville, 
Kris Boyd, Kelton Collier, Christian Loyd, Chase Tate, Jamaal Wheeler, 
LaMarcus Morton, Freddy Curtis, Dustin Brown, Hunter Richardson, CJ 
Grimmett, Kade Clemens, Tristan Olivares, Juan Esquivel, Nathan Mize, 
Trendon Brooks, Frankie Coleman, Kaloni Moton, Caleb Gunter, Clayton 
Williams, Jeremy Kelly, Matthew Caldwell, Jackson Sikes, Brett Rice, 
Zach Jones, Jake Traylor, Caleb Ritter, Jacob Cullins, Will Harrison, 
Colin Hardin, Johnny Perez, Dane Jesters, Colton Hendrix, Trevor Lewis, 
Landry Henson, Cole Hart, Lucas Garrett, Erik Cerda, Dakota Williamson, 
Andrew Hollis, Cameron Tennison, Colby Gipson, Zack Troell, Zod Heath, 
and Stoney Fuller.
   No matter how talented and committed, no team could achieve so much 
resulting in an undefeated season without a head coach and coaching 
staff of extraordinary vision and ability who could lead the Buckeyes 
to success, both on and off the field. Superintendent Rick Albritton, 
Principal Greg Watson, Head Coach and Athletic Director Jeff Traylor, 
Todd Barr, Robert Bero, Colton Bunn, Randall Canady, Wayne Coleman, 
Russell Cunningham, Tommy Edwards, Todd Fenton, Dustin Gunter, Lonnie 
Henry, Olan Johnson, Kerry Lane, Terrence Lovely, Max Low, Alan Metzel, 
Cody Robinson, Keith Tate, Kurt Traylor, Matt Turner, and Brandon 
Williams; along with athletic trainers Kara Kanutson and Will Bennett.
   It is truly an incalculable honor to pay tribute to this 
sensationally astounding group of young people who became so much more 
than the sum total of the team's individual parts. And they 
magnificently represent the very best of the Gilmer community and the 
entire First District of Texas. Their legacy, along with the memory of 
their friend and cherished teammate Desmond Pollard, is now recorded in 
the Congressional Record which will endure as long as there is a United 
States of America.

                          ____________________