1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 620 1-3 WHEREAS, March 31, 2001, marks the 123rd anniversary of 1-4 the birth of Jack Johnson, a native of Galveston and the first 1-5 African American to win the world heavyweight boxing championship; 1-6 and 1-7 WHEREAS, After gaining experience as a sparring partner, 1-8 Mr. Johnson began fighting in private clubs in and around 1-9 Galveston, and in 1897 he became a professional prizefighter; 1-10 in 1903 he won the Negro heavyweight championship, and five years 1-11 later, in a victorious match in Australia, he staked his claim to 1-12 the world heavyweight championship; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Because of widespread prejudice, he was not 1-14 officially accorded the title until 1910, when he defeated 1-15 former champion Jim Jeffries in Las Vegas; Mr. Johnson continued 1-16 to fight, but in 1913, faced with conviction over a contrived 1-17 charge, he quit the United States and began touring Europe, Mexico, 1-18 and Canada; he retained his championship until 1915; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was in Spain when the United States 1-20 entered World War I, and he became active in United States military 1-21 intelligence; his work helped to prevent German submarine crews 1-22 from landing on the Spanish coast; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Returning to the United States in 1920, 2-1 Mr. Johnson fought in exhibition matches, refereed fights, and 2-2 worked with other boxers as a manager and sometimes as a trainer; 2-3 during World War II he again stepped forward to serve his country 2-4 by encouraging citizens to buy war bonds; in 1954, eight years 2-5 after he died in an automobile accident, he was inducted into the 2-6 Boxing Hall of Fame; and 2-7 WHEREAS, In 1967 The Great White Hope, a play based 2-8 loosely on Mr. Johnson's life, premiered in Washington, D.C.; the 2-9 following year the play moved to Broadway, and James Earl Jones 2-10 and Jane Alexander won Tonys for their performances in the leading 2-11 roles; the drama was made into a film in 1970; and 2-12 WHEREAS, An enormously gifted athlete, Mr. Johnson was 2-13 famous for his flawless boxing and near-perfect defense; he fought 2-14 in 113 matches and lost only six; unbowed in the face of racial 2-15 antagonism, he exhibited great personal courage and, in times of 2-16 national crisis, signal patriotism; now, therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-18 77th Legislature, hereby recognize March 31, 2001, as Jack Johnson 2-19 Day in honor of this distinguished Texan and exceptional athlete. 2-20 Jackson 2-21 ______________________________________ 2-22 President of the Senate 2-23 I hereby certify that the above 2-24 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-25 on April 2, 2001. 2-26 ______________________________________ 2-27 Secretary of the Senate 2-28 ______________________________________ 2-29 Member, Texas Senate