Senate Concurrent Resolution 573

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING GEORGE SEKUL, HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK FROM USM AND GCCC, UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2002.

WHEREAS, the Jackson Touchdown Club and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame have unveiled the Class of 2002 of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, which features George Sekul, Hall of Fame quarterback and coach who led the University of Southern Mississippi to a National Small College championship and Gulf Coast Community College gridiron team to state and national JUCO titles; and

WHEREAS, his sports career is a matter of record: his record of wins and losses is unmatched in 20th Century NJCAA football history; he was the first college coach in Mississippi to integrate his football team with African American players in 1967; a Biloxi native who was a super athlete at Notre Dame High; played at Perkinston Junior College where he was an All-State JUCO quarterback who received honorable mention All-American honors; lettered at Southern Miss in 1957 and 1958 where he was an Honorable Mention Small College All-American; quarterback of the 1958 Southern Miss team that finished 9-0 and claimed the UPI College Division National Championship; played in the 1959 Senior Bowl; began his coaching career in Perkinston in 1961 and remained at Gulf Coast for three decades; led the Gulf Coast Bulldogs to two national titles (1971 and 1984) and eight Mississippi JUCO crowns; became the first NJCAA football coach in history to reach 200 wins in 1991; his Gulf Coast teams compiled a record of 204-75-5; enshrined in six other athletic Halls of Fame, including: City of Biloxi (1966), Southern Mississippi (1968), Gulf Coast Chapter of the NFFHOF (1974), National JUCO Athletic Association Hall of Fame (1996), Gulf Coast Athletic Hall of Fame, and Gulf Coast CC Alumni Hall of Fame (2000); and the field house at Gulf Coast CC is named in his honor; 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 George Sekul, Hall of Fame quarterback from the University of Southern Mississippi and Gulf Coast Community College, upon his induction into the 40th Anniversary Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2002, 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 George Sekul at induction ceremonies to be held on April 19, 2002, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.