A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring the north carolina sports hall of fame and its inductees.
Whereas, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1962 and enshrined its first inductees in 1963, celebrates excellence and extraordinary achievement in athletics; and
Whereas, the first class of inductees were Jim Beatty, Estelle Lawson Page, Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice, Clarence "Ace" Parker, and Wes Ferrell; and
Whereas, Jim Beatty was a member of the track team at the University of North Carolina and was one of the world's greatest distance runners, becoming the first person to break a four‑minute mile record indoors, and once held the world two‑mile record; and
Whereas, Estelle Lawson Page was raised in North Carolina and is viewed as one of the State's greatest female golfers, winning several golf championships, including the 1937 U.S. Amateur championship, the Carolinas Amateur championship seven times, and the North Carolina Amateur championship three times; and
Whereas, Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice grew up in Asheville and played football for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice led the University's football team to two Sugar Bowls and one Cotton Bowl, and later played four seasons with the Washington Redskins; and
Whereas, Clarence "Ace" Parker played both football and baseball at Duke University. Clarence "Ace" Parker played professional baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics for a short period before becoming a professional football player with the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers; and
Whereas, Wes Ferrell, a Greensboro native, was an outstanding baseball pitcher and hitter, playing 15 years in the majors and having six seasons with 20 wins or more, four with the Cleveland Indians and two with the Boston Red Sox. In 1931, he pitched a no‑hitter for Cleveland, helping his team beat St. Louis 9‑0; and
Whereas, the Sports Hall of Fame also commemorates and memorializes exceptional accomplishments in sports for the inspiration and enjoyment of all North Carolinians, especially the youth, through popular exhibits and educational displays; and
Whereas, the vision of the Sports Hall of Fame is to continue to expand and strengthen association with all citizens of North Carolina; and
Whereas, on May 2, 2013, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, which now totals 300 members, will celebrate 50 years of induction ceremonies, representing the finest athletes and sports staff in the history of the State; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame is located on the third floor of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh and should be designated as the official North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and Museum; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives, on the 50th anniversary of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, honors the memory of inductees that have passed away.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives expresses its appreciation and gratitude to the inductees of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame for the contributions they made to athletics.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame President, Dr. Janie Brown, and Executive Director, Don Fish.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.