Bill Text: MS HR43 | 2010 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown; commend career success and acknowledge his humanitarian and civic efforts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 31-1)
Status: (Passed) 2010-03-02 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR43 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2010-HR43-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Broomfield, Perkins, Scott, Bailey, Banks, Buck (72nd), Burnett, Calhoun, Clarke, Coleman (29th), Coleman (65th), DeLano, Dedeaux, Espy, Evans (70th), Evans (91st), Flaggs, Fredericks, Gardner, Harrison, Hines, Holloway, Johnson, Jones (82nd), Middleton, Myers, Norquist, Robinson, Smith (27th), Straughter, Thomas, Wooten
House Resolution 43
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE ATHLETIC AND HOLLYWOOD CAREER SUCCESS OF JAMES NATHANIEL "JIM" BROWN AND ACKNOWLEDGING HIS HUMANITARIAN AND CIVIC EFFORTS TO EFFECTUATE POSITIVE CHANGE IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
WHEREAS, the Herculean effort of James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown to effectuate positive social change is the penultimate example of his greatness as a human being, a character trait that overshadows his most notable accolades and claim to fame as arguably the greatest athlete of the 20th Century, a trailblazer and a pioneer in Hollywood; and
WHEREAS, born on February 17, 1936, to Theresa and Swinton Brown, a housekeeper and professional boxer by professions respectively, Jim Brown grew up in St. Simons Island, Georgia, before moving to Manhasset, New York, with his parents where he would later attend and graduate from Manhasset High School, the birthing place of his rise as a football star and athletic legend; and
WHEREAS, while at Manhasset High School, Brown earned 13 letters playing football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball and running track, a dynamic record that continued throughout his collegiate career at Syracuse University as a multi-sport athlete; and
WHEREAS, the Great Jim Brown, as he is most commonly referred to in the context of his athletic exploits, was taken in the first round of the 1956 draft by the Cleveland Browns, and for nine years, he did reign supreme as the most dominant, prolific and feared running back in the NFL; and
WHEREAS, at the height of his professional football career he unveiled to the world his ultimate purpose for being on the planet--affecting positive social change, and in the tumultuous 1960s, Mr. Brown chose to close the growing economic divide by starting the Negro Industrial Economic Union, assembling a cadre of professionals who applied their expertise in economic development to the mission of creating businesses and jobs in African-American communities, which resulted in the launch of more than 400 businesses and generated thousands of new jobs; and
WHEREAS, departing the NFL in 1965 as the league's record holder for a single season (1,863 yards in 1963) and career rushing (12,312 yards), as well as the all-time leader in rushing touchdowns (106), total touchdowns (126), and all-purpose yards (15,549), he was the first player ever to reach the 100-rushing-touchdowns milestone and is the only rusher in NFL history to average over 100 yards per game for a career; and
WHEREAS, in 1966, he transitioned from the gridiron to the silver screen and displayed the same commitment to effectuating positive social change, using his platform as a film star and a football legend to start businesses in Los Angeles; and
WHEREAS, Jim Brown's quest to bring about positive social change necessitated courage and uncompromising integrity, as he has served and continues to serve on the frontline in the battle for basic human rights; and
WHEREAS, in 1988, Jim Brown chose to enter "the belly of the beast" by founding the Amer-I-Can Program for Social Change to confront gang violence, the element in society that imperiled and paralyzed communities throughout Southern California, curtailed economic development and left in its wake a path of death and destruction; and
WHEREAS, under the auspices of the Amer-I-Can Program for Social Change, Brown created the Life Management Skills Curriculum, a 60-90 hour course of instruction that became the cornerstone of the Amer-I-Can Program for Social Change, infusing $300,000.00 of his own money to launch the corporation which employed former gang members as facilitators of the curriculum, and which, since its inception in 1988, has been taught in prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, jails, high schools, community facilities and colleges; and
WHEREAS, the Amer-I-Can Life Management Skills Curriculum has been taught in 16 states, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom and has been the mechanism that has saved and changed lives in a plethora of settings from the belly of the beast to halls of higher learning; and
WHEREAS, having starred in dozens of movies and making appearances on several syndicated television shows, Brown, who has been the subject of numerous books, has used his memorable professional career as Pro-Football Hall of Famer, College Football Hall of Famer and Lacrosse Hall of Famer to compel improved social and economic change in gang ravaged and socio-economically deprived communities; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the zeal of such noble and quintessential humanitarians as Mr. Brown, who is a catalyst for positive social change, a drum major for justice and a community activist:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the athletic and Hollywood career success of James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown, acknowledge his humanitarian and civic efforts to effectuate positive change in communities throughout the United States and extend sincere wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Brown and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
