[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1427 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1427

                Honoring the life of John Robert Wooden.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 8, 2010

 Mr. Waxman (for himself, Ms. Harman, Ms. Richardson, Mr. Schiff, Mr. 
     Berman, Mrs. Capps, Ms. Watson, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Sherman, Mrs. 
  Napolitano, Mr. Murphy of Connecticut, Mr. Matheson, Mr. Honda, Ms. 
 Linda T. Sanchez of California, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Ellsworth, Mr. 
 Visclosky, Mr. Donnelly of Indiana, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Loretta Sanchez 
   of California, Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California, Mr. McClintock, Mr. 
  Buyer, Mr. Shuler, Mr. Hill, Ms. Chu, and Mr. Dreier) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
                               and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
                Honoring the life of John Robert Wooden.

Whereas John Robert Wooden was born on October 14, 1910, in Hall, Indiana;
Whereas John Wooden began his basketball career at Martinsville High School and 
        helped his team win the Indiana State high school basketball title in 
        1927;
Whereas John Wooden later became a three-time all-American star guard at Purdue 
        University, helped lead Purdue to the National Championship in 1932, was 
        named the 1932 national collegiate player of the year, and received the 
        Big Ten medal for excellence in scholarship;
Whereas John Wooden served honorably as a lieutenant in the United States Navy 
        during World War II;
Whereas John Wooden began his collegiate coaching career in 1946 at Indiana 
        State Teachers College (now Indiana State University), where he fought 
        racial inequality by refusing an invitation to the 1947 National 
        Association of Intercollegiate Basketball because an African-American 
        player on his team would not be allowed to participate;
Whereas John Wooden became head coach at the University of California Los 
        Angeles (UCLA) in 1948 and quickly established a record of success with 
        his student-athletes both on and off the court that is legendary and 
        unmatched;
Whereas John Wooden led the UCLA Bruins to 10 National Collegiate Athletic 
        Association (NCAA) championships (including 7 in a row), 19 conference 
        championships, 12 final four appearances, four perfect seasons, and a 
        record 88-game winning streak from 1971 to 1974;
Whereas John Wooden was the first person elected to the Naismith Memorial 
        Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and as a coach;
Whereas John Wooden was foremost an educator who always stressed the importance 
        of team play while inspiring the development of individual talent and 
        academic excellence;
Whereas John Wooden was the personification of teamwork and good sportsmanship, 
        and his name is synonymous with integrity;
Whereas an annual award in John Wooden's name is given to the Nation's top 
        college men's and women's basketball player;
Whereas John Wooden won the lifelong respect of his colleagues, players, and 
        fans for the values he lived and espoused;
Whereas John Wooden's renowned Wooden Pyramid of Success, which stresses 
        industriousness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, enthusiasm, self-
        control, alertness, initiative, intentness, condition, skill, team 
        spirit, poise, and confidence as the building blocks for competitive 
        greatness, is one of the most widely recognized blueprints for 
        excellence in any pursuit;
Whereas, on July 23, 2003, John Wooden received the Presidential Medal of 
        Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor recognizing exceptional 
        meritorious service;
Whereas, on December 20, 2003, the basketball floor at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion 
        was dedicated as ``Nell and John Wooden Court''; and
Whereas John Wooden, whose death was preceded by his beloved wife Nell, is 
        survived by his 2 children, Nancy and James, 7 grandchildren, and 13 
        great-grandchildren: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors John Wooden for his exceptional career as a 
        coach, player, educator, and mentor, including his unrivaled 
        achievements during his tenure at UCLA;
            (2) pays tribute to his iconic legacy of leadership, and 
        recognizes the respect and admiration he earned through his 
        dedication to the betterment of others; and
            (3) expresses condolences on his passing to his children, 
        Nancy and James, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, 
        and the countless players, fans, and admirers who mourn his 
        passing.
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