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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, March 31, 2011, marks the 133rd 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 claimed the world |
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heavyweight title; and |
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WHEREAS, Outraged by Mr. Johnson's triumph, numerous |
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commentators voiced the racial prejudice common in the early 1900s |
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and called for his defeat by a white boxer; eventually, a bout was |
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arranged with Jim Jeffries, a former heavyweight champion; on July |
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4, 1910, Mr. Johnson knocked out his foe in the 15th round to retain |
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his title; his reign as heavyweight champ extended for five years, |
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but his life underwent a major change in 1913, when he was convicted |
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on a contrived charge; to avoid a yearlong prison sentence, he fled |
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the country and settled in Europe; 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, After returning to the United States in 1920, |
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Mr. Johnson served his prison sentence and also fought in |
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exhibition matches, refereed fights, and worked with other boxers |
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as a manager and sometimes as a trainer; during World War II, he |
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again stepped forward to serve his country by encouraging citizens |
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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 |
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on 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 Tony Awards for their performances in the leading |
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roles; the drama was made into a film in 1970; and |
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WHEREAS, An enormously gifted athlete, Mr. Johnson was famous |
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for his flawless boxing and near-perfect defense; he fought in 113 |
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matches and lost only 6; unbowed in the face of racism, he exhibited |
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outstanding personal courage and, in times of national crisis, |
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great patriotism; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2011, 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. |