|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
WHEREAS, March 31, 2007, marks the 129th anniversary of the |
|
birth of Jack Johnson, a native of Galveston and the first African |
|
American to win the world heavyweight boxing championship; and |
|
WHEREAS, After gaining experience as a sparring partner, |
|
Mr. Johnson began fighting in private clubs in and around |
|
Galveston, and in 1897 he became a professional prizefighter; in |
|
1903 he won the Negro heavyweight championship, and five years |
|
later, in a victorious match in Australia, he staked his claim to |
|
the world heavyweight championship; and |
|
WHEREAS, Because of widespread prejudice, he was not |
|
officially accorded the title until 1910, when he defeated former |
|
champion Jim Jeffries in Las Vegas; Mr. Johnson continued to fight, |
|
but in 1913, faced with conviction over a contrived charge, he quit |
|
the States and began touring Europe, Mexico, and Canada; he |
|
retained his championship until 1915; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was in Spain when the United States |
|
entered World War I, and he became active in U.S. military |
|
intelligence; his work helped to prevent German submarine crews |
|
from landing on the Spanish coast; and |
|
WHEREAS, Returning to the United States in 1920, Mr. Johnson |
|
fought in exhibition matches, refereed fights, and worked with |
|
other boxers as a manager and sometimes as a trainer; during World |
|
War II he again stepped forward to serve his country by encouraging |
|
citizens to buy war bonds; in 1954, eight years after he died in an |
|
automobile accident, he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame; |
|
and |
|
WHEREAS, In 1967 The Great White Hope, a play based loosely on |
|
Mr. Johnson's life, premiered in Washington, D.C.; the following |
|
year the play moved to Broadway, and James Earl Jones and Jane |
|
Alexander won Tonys for their performances in the leading roles; |
|
the drama was made into a film in 1970; and |
|
WHEREAS, An enormously gifted athlete, Mr. Johnson was |
|
famous for his flawless boxing and near-perfect defense; he fought |
|
in 113 matches and lost only 6; unbowed in the face of racial |
|
antagonism, he exhibited great personal courage and, in times of |
|
national crisis, signal patriotism; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
|
Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2007, as Jack Johnson Day at |
|
the State Capitol in honor of this distinguished Texan and |
|
exceptional athlete. |
|
|
Eiland |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 490 was adopted by the House on March |
|
8, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|