[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 26 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 26

  Recognizing and honoring Ralph Wilson, Jr. and Bruce Smith on being 
         selected to the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 3, 2009

 Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing and honoring Ralph Wilson, Jr. and Bruce Smith on being 
         selected to the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Whereas Ralph Wilson, Jr. was born in Columbus, Ohio on October 17, 1918, and 
        grew up in Detroit, Michigan;
Whereas Ralph Wilson, Jr. is a graduate of the University of Virginia and 
        attended the University of Michigan Law School;
Whereas Ralph Wilson, Jr. bravely served in the United States Navy during World 
        War II;
Whereas Ralph Wilson, Jr.'s first involvement in professional football was as a 
        minority owner of the National Football League's (NFL) Detroit Lions;
Whereas, on October 28, 1959, Ralph Wilson, Jr. created the Buffalo Bills, the 
        seventh American Football League (AFL) franchise;
Whereas under Ralph Wilson, Jr.'s leadership and with the legendary players Jack 
        Kemp, Cookie Gilchrist, Billy Shaw, and Tom Sestak, the Buffalo Bills 
        were AFL champions in 1964 and 1965;
Whereas Ralph Wilson, Jr., head Coach Marv Levy, and outstanding talented 
        players, including Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, and Andre 
        Reed, led the Buffalo Bills to Super Bowls XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII;
Whereas, in 1998, the Buffalo Bill's home stadium was named ``Ralph Wilson 
        Stadium'' to honor the team's owner;
Whereas, at 90 years old, Ralph Wilson, Jr. is still a champion for his team;
Whereas Bruce Smith was born in Norfolk, Virginia on June 18, 1963;
Whereas Bruce Smith attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 
        and is one of the most-celebrated football players of his alma mater, 
        having been nicknamed ``The Sack Man'';
Whereas Bruce Smith was drafted to the Buffalo Bills in 1985 as the number one 
        draft pick overall;
Whereas Bruce Smith was a member of the Buffalo Bills for Super Bowls XXV, XXVI, 
        XXVII, and XXVIII;
Whereas Bruce Smith was first selected to play in the Pro Bowl in 1987, and was 
        selected 10 additional years during which he was a Buffalo Bill;
Whereas Bruce Smith boasts numerous professional football recognitions, 
        including Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player, Associated Press NFL Defensive 
        Player of the Year, Newspaper Enterprise Association Defensive Player of 
        the Year, United Press International Defensive Player of the Year, and 
        American Football Conference (AFC) Defensive Player of the Year; and
Whereas Bruce Smith completed his career as a Washington Redskin in 2003 after 
        19 seasons and a record 200 sacks: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and honors Ralph Wilson, Jr. 
and Bruce Smith on being selected to the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame 
class.
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