MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Burton

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING ALLEN WHIGHAM AND DANIELLE SMITH, RECIPIENTS OF THE 1996 MALE AND FEMALE CITGO "ATHLETE OF THE YEAR" AWARDS. 

WHEREAS, Allen Whigham and Danielle Smith each recently received the 1996 CITGO "Athlete of the Year" Award, an award given by the National Congress of State Games to honor a top male and female athlete from each member state who represent the true spirit of competition from all ages and abilities; and

WHEREAS, Allen Whigham and Danielle Smith were chosen from 4,000 athletes who competed in the 1996 State Games of Mississippi held in Meridian, Mississippi, June 28-30, 1996; and

WHEREAS, Allen Whigham, a 21-year-old athlete from Waynesboro, competed in three powerlifting events and four track and field events, winning six gold medals and one silver medal, repeating his 1995 victory by winning First Place in the powerlifting benchpress, deadlift and team competition; and

WHEREAS, Allen Whigham also showed his strength by winning the 100 meter and 200 meter runs and the 4 x 100 meter relay in track and field; and

WHEREAS, Allen Whigham participated in three of the last five State Games of Mississippi, winning a total of 17 gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal in powerlifting and track and field; and

WHEREAS, Allen Whigham graduated in 1994 from Quitman High School where he was a member of the football, powerlifting and track and field teams; was recognized as the District Champion and South State Champion in powerlifting in 1993 and 1994, and the District Champion in the pole vault in 1994; and while attending Jones Junior College, won the 1996 Track & Field State Championship in the 800 meter run; and

WHEREAS, Danielle Smith, a 10-year-old from Meridian, Mississippi, competed in the 1996 gymnastics event winning four gold medals in the vault, balance beam, floor exercise and the all-around competition, and one silver medal in the uneven bars; and

WHEREAS, Danielle Smith has been a gymnastics student at the Pat Gray Dance Academy in Meridian for the last seven years, was the Level Four State Champion for the Mississippi Recreational Gymnastics Association (MRGA) in 1994, and won the Level Five Beam State Championship for the United States Gymnastics Federation in 1995; and

WHEREAS, in the 1993 and 1995 State Games of Mississippi, Danielle Smith and her soccer team won a gold medal in the Under-8 Tournament and a silver medal in the Under-10 Tournament, respectively; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her sporting activities, Danielle Smith enjoys acting and has managed to find time to appear in the Meridian's Little Theater youth productions of "Pinocchio", "The Wizard of Oz", "Beauty and the Beast" and "Peter Pan"; and

WHEREAS, Allen Whigham and Danielle Smith will work with the State Games of Mississippi throughout the year to promote amateur athletics for all Mississippians; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend excellence, especially when evidenced by the youth of our state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Allen Whigham and Danielle Smith for receiving the 1996 Male and Female CITGO "Athlete of the Year" Awards.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Allen Whigham and Danielle Smith and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.