Bill Text: MS SC526 | 2016 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Mourn the loss of Legendary Alcorn State University Trailblazer Basketball Coach Davey Whitney.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-6)
Status: (Passed) 2016-02-16 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC526 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2016-SC526-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Simmons (13th), Butler, Hopson
Senate Concurrent Resolution 526
(As Adopted by Senate)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS OF LEGENDARY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZER BASKETBALL COACH DAVEY WHITNEY AND EXTENDING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE LEGISLATURE TO HIS SURVIVING FAMILY.
WHEREAS, Coach Davey Whitney, who died May 10, 2015, at 85, won 566 college basketball games. He was a Kentucky native and a Mississippi Trailblazer, who changed the sport forever in his adopted home state. He will be remembered as one of Mississippi's greatest coaches in any sport at any level. Five years after a memorable victory over Jackson State, he took his Alcorn Braves to Mississippi State and defeated the Bulldogs in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). In that same NIT, Bobby Knight's Indiana Hoosiers, three years removed from a perfect season, barely survived Whitney's Braves at Bloomington. Knight was so impressed he hired Whitney to help him coach Team USA; and
WHEREAS, Davey Whitney completed 27 seasons as the Head Men's Basketball Coach of the Alcorn State University Braves Basketball Program and has set standards which no other coach in Alcorn State or Southwestern Athletic Conference history can match; and with a career record of 566 wins and 354 losses as a collegiate head coach and a career record at Alcorn State of 510 wins and 301 losses, Whitney has spearheaded more winning seasons than any of his predecessors. He was the first SWAC Coach to lead his team to a victory in the NCAA Division I Basketball Championships; other accolades of Coach Whitney include the Alcorn Heritage Award (2012), National Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame (2010), Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (1991), SWAC Hall of Fame, Alcorn State I-Tall of Honors (1993), and Alcorn State Hall of Fame (1996); and
WHEREAS, in July 2002, Whitney became the first-ever recipient of the NCAA Hall of Champions Journey Award. This award was the result of his continued success and contributions to college basketball; and at Alcorn State University and around the nation, he has been affectionately nicknamed the "Wiz." His teams have won 12 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular season titles, a record four consecutive titles between 1978-1982. Notably, his teams have participated in 12 national post-season tournaments, have won five NAIA District Titles, and placed Second and Third in the national tournaments during the 1970s; and
WHEREAS, Alcorn State basketball during the Whitney era became the first historically black institution to compete in the National Invitation Tournament with a 1979 bid. In one of the most historical contests, the Braves defeated the Bulldogs of Mississippi State University at Starkville (80-78) before falling to eventual Champion Indiana University (73-69) in the second round; for an encore, a Whitney-led Alcorn State Team defeated South Alabama in 1980 (70-62) to become the first historically black institution to win in the NCAA Playoffs; on December 20, 1999, Coach Whitney reached a milestone in his storied career when he became part of a select group of Division I coaches to have reached the 500-win mark during their careers; and Alcorn State has made six trips to the NCAA Tournament under Coach Whitney in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1999 and 2002. Alcorn State has won its last 12 Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season titles under Coach Whitney in 1973, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2000 and 2002; and he has won SWAC Coach of the Year honors nine times and his coaching ledger includes being a member of the United States Olympic Coaching and Trial Selection Committee at the 1984 and 1986 Olympics; and
WHEREAS, the precious memories of Davey "The Wiz" Whitney will forever linger in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. The memories will be cherished by his wife of 62 beautiful years, Mrs. Bernice Whitney; and his five children: Gail of Augusta, Georgia, Libby of Austin, Texas, and Lisa, Doreen and Davey, Jr., all of Biloxi, Mississippi; his adopted son, L.M. Ellis of Clarksville, Tennessee; four grandchildren: Ashantee, Aubrei, Corey and Duonne; a special friend and traveling buddy, Melvin G. Cooper; along with a host of friends, former colleagues and former basketball players, many whom regard him as a father figure and a mentor; and
WHEREAS, Davey unselfishly shared his gifts and talents, as he served his family and community whole heartily. His community service and affiliations extended to include life membership of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Theta Sigma Lambda Chapter); the Milton "CAP" Johnson Lodge 708 F&AM; the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC); and the National Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame Committee. He honored and cherished the commitment he vowed to these organizations; and
WHEREAS, Davey Whitney changed the sport of basketball, and it is with great pride that we pay tribute to a Mississippi sports legend:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss of Legendary Alcorn State University Trailblazer Basketball Coach Davey Whitney, and extend the condolences of the Legislature to his surviving family.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Coach Whitney, forwarded to the President of Alcorn State University and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
