Congratulating Rudy Bernal on his retirement as head coach of the boys' basketball team at Antonian College Preparatory High School in San Antonio.

89(R) HR 903 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

H.R. No. 903

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Rudy Bernal is retiring as head coach of the boys'

basketball team at Antonian College Preparatory High School in

San Antonio at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, drawing to a

close a legendary career in the coaching ranks that has spanned more

than four decades; and

WHEREAS, A San Antonio native and a 1979 graduate of

The University of Texas at San Antonio, Coach Bernal began his

career with a two-year stint at Antonian, and he also served as an

assistant basketball coach at West Campus High School in the South

San Antonio Independent School District; and

WHEREAS, Coach Bernal took the helm of the boys' basketball

program at San Antonio Lanier High School in 1983, four decades

after his father, Ramiro, played on the school's 1943 state

championship team; he established a winning culture during his 31

years as head coach of the Voks, guiding his teams to 4 district

titles and 15 playoff appearances; his tenure was highlighted by

back-to-back trips to the University Interscholastic League state

tournament in 2000 and 2001, with Lanier reaching the title contest

during its 2001 visit to the Frank Erwin Center in Austin; the

team's final four appearances were a source of great pride for all

those associated with Lanier High School, an inner-city campus that

served a student body that was almost completely Hispanic, and the

achievement remains a treasured memory in the local community; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, Coach Bernal retired from public education,

but he returned to Antonian as an assistant coach before the start

of the 2014-2015 basketball season; he was named interim coach for

the Apaches in December 2015, and he was promoted to the head

coaching position the following year; continuing to enjoy a

remarkable level of success, he led Antonian to Texas Association

of Private and Parochial Schools state championships in 2019 and

2021; in his final season, he guided the team to the regional

semifinals of the 2025 playoffs and an impressive record of 34-7;

known for his competitive spirit and a coaching style that produced

tenacious and suffocating defenses, he racked up 868 total

victories during his time at Lanier and Antonian; and

WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Coach Bernal enjoys the love

and support of his wife, Karen, and his two daughters, Alexa and

Katie; retirement will afford him the opportunity to travel and

spend more time with his family; and

WHEREAS, Coach Bernal has served as an inspiring mentor and

role model to countless student-athletes, and he may indeed reflect

with pride on his myriad accomplishments as he embarks on the next

exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas

Legislature hereby congratulate Rudy Bernal on his retirement as

head coach of the Antonian College Preparatory High School boys'

basketball team and extend to him sincere best wishes for the

future; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

prepared for Coach Bernal as an expression of high regard by the

Texas House of Representatives.

Martinez Fischer

______________________________

Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 903 was adopted by the House on May

23, 2025, by a non-record vote.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House