[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 123 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 123

   Recognizing the historical and national significance of the many 
    contributions of John William Heisman to the sport of football.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 12, 2009

 Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. Holden, Mr. Pitts, Mr. 
 Altmire, Mr. Shuler, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. 
 Murtha, Mr. Gingrey of Georgia, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Gerlach) submitted 
    the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the historical and national significance of the many 
    contributions of John William Heisman to the sport of football.

Whereas, born in 1869, John W. Heisman was an early and influential developer of 
        the game of football, one of America's most beloved sports;
Whereas Heisman learned the game of football playing for Titusville High School 
        in the 1880s and began his long career as a player, coach, writer, and 
        great innovator of the sport;
Whereas Heisman played college football for Brown University and the University 
        of Pennsylvania;
Whereas his coaching career lasted from 1892-1927 and took Heisman to many 
        institutions including: Oberlin College, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, 
        Washington and Jefferson, Rice University, and his alma mater, the 
        University of Pennsylvania;
Whereas, after coaching, Heisman continued his involvement with the sport as a 
        well-known author and publisher of sports periodicals;
Whereas, as head coach of Georgia Tech's football club, his team saw an 
        incredible 33 back-to-back wins, while going 37-4-2 in his final five 
        years as coach;
Whereas Heisman coached Georgia Tech to an incredible 222-0 win over Tennessee's 
        Cumberland College, the highest scoring football game on record;
Whereas Heisman is credited with inventing the forward pass, which is widely 
        considered to be his greatest contribution to the sport;
Whereas he introduced games consisting of four quarters, invented the center 
        snap, and created plays that were precursors to the T and I formations;
Whereas, as director of the New York Downtown Athletic Club (DAC), Heisman and 
        DAC established an annual award for the best college player in the 
        Eastern U.S., which subsequently became national in scope in 1935;
Whereas the award was renamed the Heisman Memorial Trophy after he passed away 
        in 1936; and
Whereas John Heisman was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes the significance, the importance, and many 
        contributions John Heisman had on its development of one of 
        America's most beloved sports--football;
            (2) praises Heisman's efforts in helping to establish the 
        most valuable player award for college football, which 
        eventually would be named for him; and
            (3) acknowledges Heisman's innovative and influential 
        coaching techniques and strategies, as well as his legendary 
        leadership on and off of the football field.
                                 <all>