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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, March 31, 2007, marks the 129th anniversary of the |
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birth of Jack Johnson, a native of Galveston and the first African |
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American to win the world heavyweight boxing championship; and |
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WHEREAS, After gaining experience as a sparring partner, |
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Mr. Johnson began fighting in private clubs in and around |
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Galveston, and in 1897 he became a professional prizefighter; in |
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1903 he won the Negro heavyweight championship, and five years |
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later, in a victorious match in Australia, he staked his claim to |
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the world heavyweight championship; and |
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WHEREAS, Because of widespread prejudice, he was not |
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officially accorded the title until 1910, when he defeated former |
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champion Jim Jeffries in Las Vegas; Mr. Johnson continued to fight, |
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but in 1913, faced with conviction over a contrived charge, he quit |
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the States and began touring Europe, Mexico, and Canada; he |
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retained his championship until 1915; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was in Spain when the United States |
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entered World War I, and he became active in U.S. military |
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intelligence; his work helped to prevent German submarine crews |
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from landing on the Spanish coast; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to the United States in 1920, Mr. Johnson |
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fought in exhibition matches, refereed fights, and worked with |
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other boxers as a manager and sometimes as a trainer; during World |
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War II he again stepped forward to serve his country by encouraging |
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citizens to buy war bonds; in 1954, eight years after he died in an |
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automobile accident, he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In 1967 The Great White Hope, a play based loosely on |
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Mr. Johnson's life, premiered in Washington, D.C.; the following |
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year the play moved to Broadway, and James Earl Jones and Jane |
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Alexander won Tonys for their performances in the leading roles; |
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the drama was made into a film in 1970; and |
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WHEREAS, An enormously gifted athlete, Mr. Johnson was |
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famous for his flawless boxing and near-perfect defense; he fought |
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in 113 matches and lost only 6; unbowed in the face of racial |
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antagonism, he exhibited great personal courage and, in times of |
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national crisis, signal patriotism; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2007, as Jack Johnson Day at |
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the State Capitol in honor of this distinguished Texan and |
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exceptional athlete. |