Senate Concurrent Resolution 513

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING AND COMMENDING LEGENDARY PEARL HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD COACH WOODY BARNETT FOR WINNING THE 2011 STATE TITLE AND FOR BEING NAMED STATE 2011 ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AND THE BOYS TRACK COACH OF THE YEAR BY THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF COACHES.

WHEREAS, Pearl High School's Athletic Director and Head Track Coach, Woody Barnett, has been named by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as recipient of the association's two most distinguished honors: 2011 Athletic Director of the Year and the Boys Track Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, as undefeated Class 5A State Track Champions, Coach Barnett guided and motivated his team to first-place finishes at The University of Southern Mississippi Invitational, the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans, and the Mississippi State University Bulldog Invitational meets that featured some of the top teams in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, a 34-year veteran with the Pearl Public School District, Barnett has served as Head Coach of the track and cross-country teams for 33 of those years, and was tapped to fill the post of Athletic Director for the Pearl Schools 14 years ago in 1997; and

WHEREAS, in the Championship meet, Steve Shoto doubled in the 400 (48.17) and 800 meters (1:55.55) as Pearl High School outscored Oxford 123-84 to repeat and give legendary Pirates' Coach Woody Barnett his 14th State Title. The Pearl Pirates also got wins from Kyle Bynum in the discus (173-8) and Andrew Harwell in the 3,200 (9:59.15) and claimed two relay victories. The Pirates' Larry Holmes, Steve Shoto, DeVante Nichols and Richard Taylor won the 4x200 in 1:28.25; and Larry Holmes, Calvin Spann, A.K. Travis and Steve Shoto took the 4x400 in 3:22.85; and

WHEREAS, Coach Barnett, whose 2011 team was undefeated, said, "If it's not the best team ever, it's in the top two. The bigger the meets, the better we've been. We went down to the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans with 60-something teams and won that. We won the Mississippi State Invitational with 40-something teams. We broke four school records this year and we had two Division I athletes recruited in Shoto (Mississippi State) and Bynum (Memphis). I can't be more proud of what these athletes have done this year. It's amazing"; and

WHEREAS, Coach Barnett, who credits Pearl's quality coaches to the school's athletic programs for his selection of this honor, has built an athletic program that is the home of champions, as evidenced by Pearl High School's 42 boys and girls cross-country and track teams state championship titles and its receipt of the All Sports Award for Class 5A for its athletic teams overall successful season; and

WHEREAS, Barnett's career is lined with numerous merits and awards, including: an eight-time recipient of the Mississippi Association of Coaches Track or Cross-Country Coach of the Year; 2008 inductee into the Mississippi Association of Coaches "Coaches Hall of Fame"; five-time State Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High Schools Coaches Association and its successor organizations; two-time Regional Coach of the Year; National Coach of the Year; and Southeast Region Gill Athletics Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2011; and

WHEREAS, the sports of cross-country and track and field involve athletes competing as individuals in team sports. To be successful, athletes must push themselves hard in training. At Pearl High School, the cross-country and track and field teams are competitive year after year. Those who train under Coach Barnett work hard. Coaches are some of the most influential people in children's lives, whether it be in a recreational league or at the high school level; and it is with great pride that we recognize this legendary coach who has brought honor to his school, 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 do hereby congratulate and commend legendary Pearl High School "Pirates" Track and Field Coach Woody Barnett for winning the 2011 State Championship and for being named State 2011 Athletic Director of the Year and the Boys Track Coach of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, and extend our best wishes to Coach Barnett and his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Barnett, forwarded to Pearl School Board, and the Superintendant of Pearl High School, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.