[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 109 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO TEX WILLIAMS

 Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor a Mountain 
State coaching legend from Raleigh County, Tex Williams. He is as 
legendary and as influential in West Virginia as two of his best 
friends, Jerry West and Logan High School Coaching legend Willie Akers.
  Good coaches are able to show you what it takes to succeed in the 
game. Special coaches are able to put that human touch to it and go a 
step beyond to have a positive impact on your life. Tex was able to 
capture both. He was the longtime coach at St. Albans and also served 
as coach at Vinson High School, Nitro High School, the University of 
Charleston, Alderson-Broaddus, and the Charleston Gunners of the CBA. 
He was a star athlete in all sports, and has coached on every level--
high school, college, and pro basketball--and won more than 500 games 
in his career.
  In 2014, I had the privilege of congratulating Tex upon the opening 
of the Tex Williams Museum in Artie, WV. There, the Marshall Athletic 
Hall of Fame member for both baseball and basketball and acclaimed 
coach's legacy is on display, housing 40,000 photos he collected 
throughout his long career. Making it even more special, the Tex 
Williams Museum is housed in the old post office building his father 
helped build and where his mother worked for 43 years.
  Tex learned early on that sports can make you into so much more than 
a successful athlete if you have the right attitude. There is no 
greater achievement than to be in a position to give back to the 
community that helped shape who you are, and that is what we are 
celebrating today by honoring Tex. He started the Hoops Classic high 
school basketball tournament, which is played every year at the 
Charleston Civic Center. So many student-athletes have been inspired by 
Tex and have gone forward to build successful careers for themselves in 
our home State. Tex started the West Virginia Legends Sports Banquet 9 
years ago, which reunites former players and coaches who once starred 
in West Virginia high school and college athletics. Tex has not only 
influenced and inspired student athletes for decades, but he has passed 
his knowledge and tradition of coaching excellence to his son, Adam, 
who also holds a strong legacy as a player and coach.
  Tex is a perfect example of what makes West Virginia so very unique 
and special. Our people have this can-do spirit, a neighborly love that 
is unrelenting, and we are all grounded by the same core principle: to 
help others be the best they can be and to never forget where you came 
from. As I always say, if you can count your blessings, you can share 
your blessings, and Tex has embodied that sentiment beautifully.
  Again, it is an honor to recognize the outstanding achievements of 
Tex Williams and all he has done for countless student athletes across 
our home State.

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