Senate Concurrent Resolution 554

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING NATCHEZ CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH KEN BEESLEY ON HIS LANDMARK 200TH CAREER VICTORY AND HIS LEGACY AS TEACHER AND COACH ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, it's hard to quantify the impact of Ken Beesley's 38-year career as a Coach and Teacher at Natchez Cathedral High School, but the numbers are not the real story so much as are the individual lives he's touched; and

WHEREAS, on October 6, 2006, Coach Ken Beesley joined a select club of coaches with 200 career victories. What makes his accomplishment all the more rare is the fact that all of his wins came while he was at one school; and

WHEREAS, during Beesley's career, he's coached in excess of 1,000 players, taken 18 teams to the postseason, won 10 or more games in a season six times, won seven District Championships, been to the three South State Championships, won two State Championships in baseball, and touched the lives of countless others both in the classroom and on the sidelines; and

WHEREAS, the group of former players who gathered on the field after his 200th win spoke volumes about Coach Beesley's legacy. He instilled in his players the discipline needed to become someone in life; and

WHEREAS, nearly 40 years ago, Ken Beesley arrived in Natchez to teach Math at Cathedral High School. Ten years later, Beesley would be named the head football, baseball and basketball Coach of the Green Wave. Twenty-nine seasons and 203 football wins later, Beesley told Principal Pat Sanguinetti and Athletic Director Roy Garcia that he was ready to step down as head football Coach of Cathedral High School. Coach Beesley recommended that his son, Craig, take his place, and that recommendation has been taken by the school board; and

WHEREAS, after coming to teach at Cathedral High School in 1969 and beginning his coaching career in 1971, Ken Beesley served as an assistant before assuming the head coaching position in 1978; and

WHEREAS, the Green Wave won several district and region titles in all sports during his tenure, a state title in baseball and a South State title in football in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Beesley, who went to Mississippi State on a baseball scholarship, said there were plenty of memories made during his years roaming the halls, gyms, fields and dugouts of the school. Beesley said at the time he had thought about walking away from the game, he had hoped to go out on a high note, and this season, coming off a 7-4 record and a playoff berth, seemed like the perfect time to do so; and

WHEREAS, in more than a generation of coaching, plenty of people cross through a life, and Ken Beesley said he'd like to take a moment to thank those who helped him along the way. "I would like to thank all my former players, coaches, parents, school staff and the Cathedral Athletic Association for all their support during my career," he said; and

WHEREAS, sports are games of numbers--wins, losses, touchdowns, runs, points, but for Coach Ken Beesley, it wasn't the numbers that mattered, it was his success on people, faces and lives touched. Coaches teach the world's lessons better than anyone: dedication, hard work, perseverance, teamwork and overcoming defeat. It is with great pride that we recognize the strong foundation laid by this coach and educator, who has brought honor to his school, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate legendary Natchez Cathedral High School Football Coach Ken Beesley on his landmark 200th career victory and his legacy as teacher and coach on the occasion of his retirement, and extend to him and his family our best wishes in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Ken Beesley, forwarded to the Principal of Natchez Cathedral High School and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.