MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Michel, Harden

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MARVIN TERRELL, ALL AMERICAN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN FOR THE OLE MISS REBEL FOOTBALL TEAM IN THE 1950S WHO PLAYED ON AFL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS, UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2001.

WHEREAS, the Jackson Touchdown Club and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled the Class of 2001 of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, which features Marvin Terrell, the superb offensive lineman who was an All-American for the late 1950s Ole Miss Rebel football teams and played on the American Football League (AFL) championship teams with the Dallas Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs; and

WHEREAS, his sports career is a matter of record:

outstanding football lineman who played for championship Ole Miss Rebel football teams and AFL Champion teams with the Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs; Marvin "Boy" Terrell was born in West Memphis, Arkansas, but considers Indianola his home town since he was raised in the Delta town. At Indianola High School, Terrell bloomed into an outstanding two-way lineman. His prep career spanned the mid-fifties from 1952 to 1955. The team captain was an All Delta Valley Conference player in 1954 and 1955. In his senior year of 1955, Marvin was selected to the All-State team and was named a Wigwam Wiseman High School All-American. He played in the 1956 Mississippi High School All-Star game after signing with MSHOF member Johnny Vaught to attend college at Ole Miss. Terrell played freshman football for MSHOF member Wobble Davidson and also participated on the track team in weights from 1957-59. Marvin lettered in football at Ole Miss in 1957, 1958 and 1959, and played on three of the school's most famous teams. The Rebels compiled a record of 28 wins, 4 losses and 1 tie during this era. The 1959 team finished 10-1 and was declared National Champions by the Berryman, Billingsley, Dunkel and Sagarin polls. Sagarin named the 1959 Rebel squad as the third best all-time college football team in a poll released in 1996. The Rebs were listed behind the 1995 and 1971 Nebraska teams. The sole loss in 1959 was the famed 7-3 game in Baton Rouge to LSU and Billy Cannon's Heisman run, but Marvin and his teammates exacted revenge in the 21-0 shutout in the 1961 Sugar Bowl. The 1959 team was also chosen as the SEC Team of the Decade from 1950-59, by the Associated Press. Marvin played in two Sugar Bowls (1958 and 1960) and one Gator Bowl (1958) during his days at Ole Miss, all of which were Rebel victories. He was a crushing blocker for Coach Johnny Vaught and was a superb lineman. During his college career, Terrell stood 6'2" and weighed 235 pounds, a massive size for that era in college football. Marvin's impressive list of teammates who are also MSHOF members include Charlie Flowers, Robert Khayat, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore, Larry Grantham, Bobby Crespino and Billy Ray Adams. Marvin's Ole Miss coaches also include MSHOF members, Johnny Vaught, Roland Dale and Wobble Davidson. He had an outstanding senior campaign and was named SEC lineman of the week in consecutive games against Arkansas and LSU. Marvin was an easy choice to All-SEC First Team by the Associated Press, UPI and the Birmingham News. He was also tabbed as the Best Blocker and Best Offensive and Defensive Guard in the SEC. The Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Birmingham News named Marvin as the SEC Lineman of the Year. To cap off these honors, Marvin was selected as a First Team All-American by Look magazine and the Football Writers Association of America. Terrell was later placed on the Associated Press All-SEC Team of the Decade for the period of 1950-59. He started in the 1960 Senior Bowl. Marvin was drafted in the second round by NFL Champion Baltimore Colts in 1960. He was also a first round draft choice in the inaugural AFL draft by the Dallas Texans, who were owned by league founder and NFL Hall of Famer, Lamar Hunt. Terrell signed with the fledgling AFL team, thereby becoming one of the historic first groups of AFL signees in 1960. Marvin played left guard for the Dallas Texans in 1960, 1961 and 1962. He remained with the team when owner Lamar Hunt moved the squad to Kansas City taking on the nickname of the Chiefs. As a rookie in a rookie pro league, Marvin began playing behind left guard Sid Fournet, but was a starter by the end of the season. The Dallas team compiled an 8-6 record and was second in the AFL's West Division to the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that would eventually feature MSHOF member, WR Lance Alworth. Hampered by injuries, Terrell backed up Fournet in his second pro season as Dallas wound up with a 6-8 mark behind the San Diego Chargers in the AFL West. In 1962, Marvin was first team left guard blocking for NFL Hall of Famers, QB Len Dawson and RB Abner Haynes. Led by head coach Hank Stram, the Texans tore through the league racking up an 11-3 mark and winning the AFL Western Division. Dallas faced the defending champion Houston Oilers in the AFL championship game on December 23, 1962. The game was played in Jeppesen Stadium in Houston and was the first AFL title contest to be shown on national television by NBC with legendary Curt Gowdy at the microphone. An overflow crowd of 37,981 witnessed the longest game in professional football history at that time, as the game remained tied at 17-17 for 77 minutes and 54 seconds, 6 quarters of football. Ironically, Marvin was on the field against Houston's Billy Cannon, the LSU star who had beaten Terrell's Ole Miss team in 1959. Marvin's teammate, safety Johnny Robinson, placed with Cannon at LSU. At the end of regulation, Stram told team captain Abner Haynes to tell the officials that Dallas wanted to defend the goal to force Houston to drive against the strong wind in the cold, misty rain. Haynes, however, fumbled the option on the coin toss and told the officials that the Texans would "kick to the clock," meaning that the Oilers would defend the goal Stram wanted. The mistake did not matter, however, as Len Dawson, led by solid blocking by Marvin, drove the Texans into field goal range. Rookie kicker Tommie Brooker then ended the marathon contest with a 25-yard field goal and Dallas has their first AFL title by a 20-17 score. Each winning Texan received $2,261.80 while the losing Oilers picked up an extra $1,417.09 for the overtime game. "Boy" was named an AFL All-Star along with Texan teammate right defensive tackle Jerry Mays. Marvin suggested the play that led to the winning touchdown in the 1963 AFL All-Star game as QB Frank Tripucka hooked up with fellow Denver Bronco, Lionel Taylor, to clinch the win for the West over the East. In 1963, the Texans moved to Kansas City where Terrell played one more season in the AFL for the defending league champions. He consistently bolstered the offensive line. At 24 years old, he played pro ball at 6'2", 261 pounds. Injuries had hampered him in his early years, but his exceptional speed and quickness kept him in the lineup. The Chiefs ended their first season in Kansas City with a 5-7-2 record and third place in the West behind Oakland and San Diego. In 1964, Marvin inked with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL and played his fifth and final season in professional football. Marvin is also a member of the Ole Miss Athletic Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 1988. He is a member of the Ole Miss Team of the Century, an elite group of All-Star Rebels selected in 1993, to reflect the best players in 100 years of Ole Miss football. Marvin currently resides in Yazoo City and is employed by Yazoo Motor Company. He is married to the former Lettie Gist of Indianola. The Terrells have twin daughters, Julie Trammell of Madison and Jana Bardwell of Yazoo City. They also have two grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding athlete who has brought honor to his university 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 Marvin Terrell, All-American offensive lineman for the Ole Miss Rebel Football Team in the 1950s, who also played on AFL championship teams, upon his induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2001, and wish him and his family continued success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Marvin Terrell at induction ceremonies to be held on March 23, 2001, in Jackson, Mississippi, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.