For Immediate Release: May 25, 2006

Senate Honors Troy Aikman

The State Senate has passed a resolution honoring the outstanding career of professional football player, Troy Aikman. Senate Resolution 53, authored by Senator Frank Shurden, praises Aikman's athletic prowess throughout his high school, college and professional football career and congratulates him for being selected as an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.

“It is such an honor for me to author this resolution because not only is Troy an outstanding athlete, but he’s a close personal friend of our family,” said Shurden, D-Henryetta. “I’ve known him ever since he moved to Henryetta as a young boy and it has been a great joy watching him grow up, excel in sports and become the outstanding man he is today.”

Aikman was twelve when his family moved from southern California to Henryetta, Oklahoma. He was an outstanding athlete making All-State in both football and baseball. During his last three seasons with the Henryetta Fighting Hens High School football team, he became a prime candidate for college football recruitment. Although he was drafted by the New York Mets to play baseball, Troy signed to play football at the University of Oklahoma.

He later transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) where he had an outstanding college football career which included him leading the team to two bowl game victories. He was named PAC-10 Player of the Year in 1987 and was a consensus First Team All-American in 1988. He received the Davey O’Brien Award and finished third in Heisman Trophy balloting.

In 1989, Aikman was the first player selected in the National Football League (NFL) draft. As quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, he led the team to three Super Bowl Championships in a four-year period. In his years playing in the NFL, Aikman held or tied 47 Dallas Cowboy passing records passing for 300 yards or more in 13 regular seasons and four playoff games. He also set a NFL record by winning 90 out of 94 games in ten years during the 1990s. During his career, he was selected to participate in six consecutive Pro Bowls.

After retiring from the NFL, Aikman joined the Fox network as a color commentator - receiving an Emmy nomination in 2004 and covering the 2005 Super Bowl.

“I just can’t describe how proud my family and I are of Troy. He hasn’t let his fame change him,” said Shurden. “He’s still a gentleman and the most humble person you’ll ever meet.”

For more information, contact:
Senator Shurden's Office: (405) 521-5588