[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 189 (Thursday, November 5, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING W.C. GORDEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 5, 2020

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
W.C. Gorden.
  W.C. Gorden was a native of Nashville, Tennessee, a former longtime 
football coach of Jackson State University and a member of the College 
Football Hall of Fame. Mr. Gorden was considered the school's 
winningest coach.
  Mr. Gorden served in the U.S. Army before beginning his coaching 
journey in 1956.
  Gorden led the Tigers from 1976 to 1991 and guided the football team 
to eight SWAC championships and nine NCAA Division I-AA playoff 
appearances. He had just one losing season.
  Jackson State won its second HBCU national championship in 1985. He 
finished his storied career with a 119-48-5 overall record and was a 
six-time SWAC Coach of the Year. Gorden was inducted into the SWAC Hall 
of Fame in 1994 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
  He was named to ESPN's Top 150 list of the greatest college football 
coaches of all time.
  Gorden produced 29 NFL Draft picks at Jackson State, including Jimmy 
Smith.
  Last month, the Jackson City Council voted unanimously to rename 
Jaycee Park after him in his honor.
  Mr. Gorden, who was 90, died on October 23, 2020.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the late 
Hall of Famer, W.C. Gorden.

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