III 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 26 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

That the Senate recognizes and honors Ralph Wilson, Jr. and Bruce Smith on being selected to the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.