[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 30 (Thursday, March 16, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO COACH SHIRLEY WALKER AND THE ALCORN STATE LADY BRAVES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 2000

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure 
to stand before you and pay tribute to someone who has been a pioneer 
in coaching women's basketball. Coach Shirley Walker, head coach of the 
Alcorn State Lady Braves won her first automatic bid to the NCAA 
tournament this past weekend as her Lady Braves won a convincing game 
(83-58) against Grambling State University for the Southwestern 
Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship.
  Although this was Coach Walker's fourth SWAC Championship, it was her 
first time earning an automatic invitation into the NCAA tournament. 
Getting an automatic invitation to the tournament has been a goal that 
Coach Walker has lobbied for her entire 21 seasons at Alcorn State. 
Coach Walker has been credited for her efforts in developing women's 
basketball in the SWAC by her peers and is most deserving of this 
opportunity to display her talents on the highest level college 
basketball has to offer. Without her contributions to this cause, 
women's basketball in the SWAC may have never had the chance to be 
represented at the NCAA tournament.
  Mr. Speaker, this upcoming Saturday, Coach Walker and her Lady Braves 
set off on a journey many dream of at the beginning of each basketball 
season, I ask that you join me in congratulating them and wishing them 
the best of luck in the ``Road to the Final Four!''

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