MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Smith

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING JORDAN MORRISON OF FLORENCE, MISSISSIPPI, FOR HIS SINGULAR ACHIEVEMENT IN WINNING HIS AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIP IN KARATE IN THE OKINAWAN TRADITIONAL KARATE-DO AND KOBU-DO WORLD TOURNAMENT IN NAHA, OKINAWA.

WHEREAS, Foreign fans flocked to Jordan Morrison, a 14-year-old from Florence, Mississippi, after he beat 84 competitors on August 14, 1999, to win his 13-15 age group in Seibukan Shorin-Ryu and then the top winners in other karate styles for his overall age group championship in the Okinawan Traditional Karate-do and Kobu-do World Tournament in Naha, Okinawa; and

WHEREAS, to win this championship in the Orient, where karate is sacred, Morrison's performance had to be flawless, and it was a real tribute to Jordan that he won their competition on their own turf, and yet they chanted "Champ-champ" to congratulate him; and

WHEREAS, Biljac Burnside of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a fifth-degree black belt who coaches Jordan in tournaments, stated that he enjoys tutoring a student who loves to work and learn: "Jordan was going up against the best, many who had been in karate twice as long and whose fathers are coaches, he has excellent concentration and is an excellent student who remembers what you teach him"; and

WHEREAS, Jordan's proud parents knew how good he was, but were quite excited when he won the world tournament in Okinawa; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this talented student athlete, who has brought such honor to his community, his school 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 congratulate and commend Jordan Morrison of Florence, Mississippi, for his singular achievement in winning his age group championship in karate in the Okinawan Traditional Karate-do and Kobu-do World Tournament in Naha, Okinawa, and wish him continued success in his future sporting and educational endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Resolution be presented to Jordan Morrison and his family, and copies be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.