A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of clarence E. "Big House" Gaines, Sr., legendary basketball coach.
Whereas, Clarence E. Gaines was born on May 21, 1923, in Paducah, Kentucky, to Lester and Olivia Bolen Gaines; and
Whereas, Clarence E. Gaines attended the Paducah public schools and graduated in 1941 as class salutatorian of Lincoln High School; and
Whereas, Clarence E. Gaines enrolled at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was an All‑American football player and a member of the basketball and track teams; and
Whereas, in college, Clarence E. Gaines was given the nickname "Big House" because of his height and size; and
Whereas, Clarence E. Gaines graduated from Morgan State University in 1945, with a degree in chemistry and took a temporary position with Winston‑Salem Teachers' College (now Winston‑Salem State University) as an assistant coach; and
Whereas, in 1946, Coach Gaines was not only teaching at the university but was also serving as the head football and basketball coach; and
Whereas, in 1948, Coach Gaines was named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Football Coach of the Year after leading the football team to an 8‑1 season; and
Whereas, in 1949, Coach Gaines began coaching only basketball and serving as the university's athletic director; and
Whereas, despite the demands of coaching and teaching, Coach Gaines made the time to continue his own education and earned a masters degree in Physical Education from Columbia University in 1950; and
Whereas, in 1967, Coach Gaines achieved one of the many high points in his career when his team, led by Vernon Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, compiled a regular season record of 31‑1, and won the NCAA Division II basketball title, the first for a historically black university; and
Whereas, that same year, Coach Gaines was named the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year, the first black coach to earn the honor; and
Whereas, Coach Gaines had an exceptional career as a basketball coach, leading his WSSU teams to 20 or more wins 18 times and winning 11 CIAA championships; and
Whereas, after 47 years of devotion and commitment to the Athletic Department at Winston‑Salem State University and to his students, Coach Gaines retired in 1993 with an outstanding record of 828‑446, making him at the time the second winningest coach in NCAA history; and
Whereas, Coach Gaines was named the CIAA Basketball Coach of the Year in 1957, 1961, 1963, 1970, 1975, and 1980 and the CIAA Outstanding Tournament Coach in 1953, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1970, and 1977; and
Whereas, Coach Gaines' accomplishments earned him numerous awards and recognitions, including the National Association of Basketball Coaches/Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association/National Intercollegiate Tournament (NABC/MIBA/NIT) Award in 1978, Indiana Sports Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990, and Order of the Long Leaf Pine; and
Whereas, Coach Gaines was inducted into several Halls of Fame, including the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Helms Hall of Fame (1968), CIAA Sports Hall of Fame (1976), the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (1978), and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1982); and
Whereas, some of Coach Gaines' other achievements include serving as cofounder of the Winston‑Salem Youth Baseball League in 1960; CIAA President from 1970 to 1974; CIAA Basketball Coaches Association President from 1972 to 1976; member of the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1973 to 1976; member of the Board of Directors of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame from 1980 to 1990; National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) President in 1989; and founder and administrator of the Winston‑Salem State University National Youth Sports Program; and
Whereas, Coach Gaines was deeply concerned for his fellow man and was active in a number of civic and fraternal organizations, including the St. Paul United Methodist Church, Meals on Wheels, Rotary Club of Winston‑Salem, Old Hickory Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Omega Psi Phi and Sigma Pi Phi Boule Fraternities; and
Whereas, Coach Gaines published his autobiography entitled "They Call Me Big House" in 2004; and
Whereas, Coach Gaines died on April 18, 2005, at the age of 81; and
Whereas, Coach Gaines is survived by his wife of 54 years, Clara Berry Gaines; a daughter, Lisa Gaines McDonald; a son, Clarence E. Gaines Jr.; four grandchildren, Loran G. McDonald, Ryan McDonald, Olivia Rose Gaines, and Garrett Christian Gaines; and
Whereas, Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines, Sr. was a talented coach, dedicated teacher, and concerned citizen who deserves to be recognized for his many contributions; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the life and memory of Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines, Sr. and acknowledges the impact he had on the game of basketball, his student players, and Winston‑Salem State University.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines, Sr. for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines, Sr.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.