[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 27 (Monday, February 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S958-S959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 562--HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF GEORGE F. 
                                McGINNIS

  Mr. BRAUN (for himself and Mr. Young) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 562

       Whereas George F. McGinnis was born on August 12, 1950;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis was on the unbeaten Indianapolis 
     Washington High School team that won the 1969 State 
     Basketball Championship;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis was Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 1969;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis was well known for his 53-point and 
     30-rebound performance in the Indiana All Stars victory over 
     Kentucky in Louisville's Freedom Hall;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis led the Big Ten in scoring and 
     rebounding as a sophomore at Indiana University, averaging 
     29.9 points and 14.7 rebounds per game;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis became the first sophomore in league 
     history to lead the Big Ten in both points and rebounds per 
     game;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis was named to the Associated Press All-
     American Third Team and added to the All-Big Ten First Team;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis bypassed his final 2 seasons of 
     National Collegiate Athletic Association eligibility as a 
     hardship case after the sudden loss of his father, Burnie;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis played for his hometown Indiana Pacers 
     for the first 4 seasons of his professional career;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis helped guide the Pacers to 2 of their 
     3 American Basketball Association championships in 1972 and 
     1973;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis was the American Basketball 
     Association's co-most valuable player, sharing the title with 
     Julius Irving, in the 1974-1975 American Basketball 
     Association season;
       Whereas, in the 1975 American Basketball Association 
     playoffs, Mr. McGinnis averaged 32.3 points, 15.9 rebounds, 
     and 8.2 assists per game;
       Whereas, during his 4-year American Basketball Association 
     stint, Mr. McGinnis was named as a 3-time American Basketball 
     Association All-Star, received 3 All-American Basketball 
     Association selections, and was selected to the American 
     Basketball Association All-Rookie First Team;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis then later played with the 
     Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and Indiana Pacers in the 
     National Basketball Association;
       Whereas, during his time in the National Basketball 
     Association, Mr. McGinnis earned 3 National Basketball 
     Association All-Star selections, was named to the All-
     National Basketball Association First Team in 1976, and was 
     voted to the All-National Basketball Association Second Team 
     in 1977;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis compiled 17,009 points and 9,233 
     rebounds in his 11-year pro basketball career;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis is 1 of 4 Indiana Pacers to have their 
     jersey number retired;
       Whereas, in 1997, Mr. McGinnis was selected to the American 
     Basketball Association All-Time Team;
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis was inducted into the Naismith 
     Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017;

[[Page S959]]

       Whereas Mr. McGinnis was inducted into the Indiana 
     University Athletics Hall of Fame on September 22, 2023; and
       Whereas Mr. McGinnis passed away on December 14, 2023: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the life and legacy of George F. McGinnis, 
     including the dedication of Mr. McGinnis--
       (A) in particular, to the game of basketball and fans in 
     the Hoosier State; and
       (B) to his work on and off the court in Indianapolis and in 
     the State Indiana;
       (2) recognizes the success of Mr. McGinnis as a source of 
     continuing pride for the entire State of Indiana;
       (3) gives a heartfelt thank you to Mr. McGinnis for all of 
     the memories and will continue to remember his legacy; and
       (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of 
     Mr. McGinnis.

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