Senate Concurrent Resolution 569

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE CIVIC AND CHARITABLE DEDICATION OF MISSISSIPPI BASEBALL STAR JAY POWELL.

WHEREAS, James Willard (Jay) Powell, who with his wife Candace, son Wyatt and daughter McKenzie, makes his home in Madison, Mississippi, is presently a star relief pitcher with the Colorado Rockies organization, whose community outreach has taken him beyond the stadium to where citizens and fans live and work through his association with civic and charitable organizations; and

WHEREAS, his sports career is a matter of record: he was a 1990 graduate of West Lauderdale High School, where he was a two-time All-State selection, earning four letters for baseball, three for football and one in basketball; he led the team in hitting two years with .439 and .486 averages; he led the team in pitching two years with records of 13-2 and 14-2; he was All-Conference four years; was MVP in Lauderdale County; was MVP on the West Lauderdale team for three consecutive years; was MVP in the Sam Dale Conference two consecutive years; was a member of the Mississippi High School All-Star Team; was a member of the 1990 Junior Pan American Team at the championships in Cuba; was a member of the 1991 Team USA squad; was All-County four years; was All-State two years; holds two pitching records for season and four for career; holds four hitting records for season and five for career; was chosen Player of the Year in Mississippi; was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 11th round; had his high school jersey (No. 6) retired on October 28, 1995; he attended Mississippi State University where he made 67 appearances and 11 starts; is one of only three Bulldogs in school history picked in the first round and to have played in the Major Leagues (the other two are Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro); set a school record with ten saves as a freshman and was named to the All-Freshman Team in 1991; was All-South Region; was All-SEC; was Freshman All-American in 1992; was rated pre-season number 5 closer in the nation by Baseball America in 1993; was All-SEC West; was drafted number 1 by the Baltimore Orioles and signed with that organization; in 1994 was traded to the Florida Marlins; in 1995 was AA Eastern League All-Star; was Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 1995 in the Florida Marlins Organization; made his Major League debut on September 10, 1995, with the Florida Marlins and finished the season with a 1.08 ERA; and he is presently with the Colorado Rockies organization as a pitcher; and

WHEREAS, his real work is off the field, where he has been involved in many civic and charitable organizations, including: (a) the Sunshine Kids in Houston, Texas; (b) Make-A-Wish Foundation; (c) many crisis centers dealing with mostly women, children and rape victims; (d) the Women's Center in Houston, Texas; (e) Hope Village for Children in Meridian, Mississippi; (f) Daily Bread Food Bank in Miami, Florida; (g) drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs; (h) Ducks Unlimited; and (i) many school visits to talk to children; and

WHEREAS, Jay has visited many hospitals (mostly children's hospitals) in the following cities: Miami, Florida; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; and Cleveland, Ohio. These visits to children's hospitals touch our hearts the most; Jay and Candace both go to hospitals, where Jay is a very loving, empathetic and caring man. Children have a very unique "position" in his "Baseball Heart." Through baseball, Jay's life is graced with many chances to meet a lot of special children and parents; and

WHEREAS, Jay's baseball camps in Meridian, Mississippi, have allowed Jay to contribute to numerous charities and organizations, including: (a) the Boy's and Girl's Club; (b) the Wheelin' Sportsman; (c) American Red Cross; (d) Hope Village for Children (Sela Ward); (e) individual sick children from the Meridian area; and (f) Rush Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the on-the-field and off-the-field accomplishments of this Mississippi professional athlete, who has brought honor to his school, his university, 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 the civic and charitable dedication and activities of Mississippi professional baseball star Jay Powell, and wish him and his family continued success in his professional career and in his life after baseball.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Jay Powell and his family and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.