[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17460]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO WILLIE JEFFRIES

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to South 
Carolina's newest inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame and 
one of our State's favorite native sons. Coach Willie Jeffries has 
distinguished himself as a trailblazing coach, a tremendous motivator, 
and wonderful ambassador for his community, his alma mater, and the 
State of South Carolina.
  Willie Jeffries was born in Union, South Carolina in 1937, and is a 
graduate of South Carolina State College (now University) in 
Orangeburg, South Carolina, where he played football and baseball. He 
earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's degree 
in guidance and counseling.
  Jeffries' coaching career began in 1960 as assistant coach at Barr 
Street High School in Lancaster, South Carolina. A head coaching 
position followed in 1961 at Granard High School in nearby Gaffney, 
where he compiled a 6-year record of 65-7-2. He won three consecutive 
state AAA championships, 1964, 1965 and 1966.
  In 1973 Jeffries' alma mater called him to serve as its head football 
coach. During the next six seasons at South Carolina State, his record 
was an impressive 50-13-4. In 1979, Division I-A football and history 
called. Jeffries was offered and accepted the head coaching position at 
Wichita State University, becoming the first African American to coach 
a Division I team.
  Jeffries became the 32nd head coach for the Wichita State University 
Shockers in Wichita, Kansas. During his 6-year tenure he compiled a 
record of 21-32-2, which ranks him third in the school's history for 
total wins. In 1982, his team went 8-3, which holds the distinction as 
the last winning season in Wichita State history. Wichita's program was 
discontinued after the 1986 season.
  In 1984, Jeffries left Wichita State to become head coach at Howard 
University in Washington, DC, where he led the Bisons to their first 
league victory and a national championship.
  In 1989, Jeffries returned to his beloved South Carolina State for 
what was to be another 13 years as head coach. During those years, 
Jeffries earned a national title and made three Heritage Bowl 
appearances. He retired from coaching in 2001, and served as director 
of athletic fund-raising until 2005, when he accepted the athletic 
director position at Grambling State University. Earlier this year, 
Jeffries was named head coach emeritus at South Carolina State and 
serves as a liaison between the university, its alumni, and other 
constituents.
  Over his outstanding career Jeffries has received several honors. He 
was inducted into the SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. He is also a 
member of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Mid-Eastern 
Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame. He has also received numerous 
honors for his community service including the Order of the Silver 
Crescent, South Carolina's highest award for outstanding community 
service, the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian 
award. A scholarship fund and endowment have been established in his 
name at SCSU. During the 2002 school year, he was honored by the Black 
Coaches' Association with a lifetime achievement award and inducted 
into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame.
  The highest honor of his career came on July 17, 2010, when Jeffries 
was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame. The requirements any 
coach must meet before being considered for this honor include coaching 
a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach, be retired for at 
least 3 years, and have won at least 60 percent of their games. 
Jeffries easily passed the first two tests, but he fell just short of 
the 60 percent winning record with a winning percentage of .565. 
Because of Jeffries remarkable career spanning 317 games over 29 years 
and his historic significance, the selection committee considered him a 
candidate who should qualify for an exception based on his unique 
record.
  Jeffries is a three-time Black National Championship winner, and is 
credited with inventing the ``Freeze Option'' offense. He is the only 
person in history to coach against both College Football Hall of Famers 
Paul ``Bear'' Bryant and Eddie Robinson. Jeffries won the MEAC 
conference title seven times, six with SCSU and one with Howard. He 
coached College Football Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Donnie Shell.
  In addition to his accomplishments on the field, it was also Jeffries 
work off the field that made him worthy of this extraordinary honor. He 
is a much sought after speaker and a tremendous ambassador for South 
Carolina State University. He is a member of several coaching, 
professional and civic organizations, including the American Football 
Coaches Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and NCAA 
Football Rules Committee.
  He and his wife, Mary, are the parents of three children and 
currently reside in Elloree, South Carolina.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me and South 
Carolina State University in congratulating Coach Willie Jeffries on 
his induction in the College Football Hall of Fame and having November 
6, 2010 celebrated as his day on the campus of SCSU. He is a legendary 
coach, whose love of football made him an unexpected barrier breaker. 
While he seeks no recognition for his extraordinary contributions to 
the sport and to society, I can think of no one more deserving of these 
honors.

                          ____________________