House Concurrent Resolution 100

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MR. THOMAS KING "TOM" SWAYZE AND EXPRESSING OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas King "Tom" Swayze, a legend in Ole Miss sports history, departed this life on January 31, 2003, causing a great loss to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, a native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, Mr. Swayze was born on March 15, 1909, and attended high school in Raymondville, Texas, and Edinburg Junior College; and

WHEREAS, in 1929, Mr. Swayze enrolled at the University of Mississippi, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1933 and was a member of the M-Club and Blue Key; and

WHEREAS, during his collegiate career at Ole Miss, Mr. Swayze earned three letters in football, playing end on Ed Walker's first three teams while earning considerable all-star mention, including being a member of the South Team in the 1932 North-South All-Star Football Game in Miami, Florida; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Mr. Swayze earned four letters in baseball as a southpaw pitcher and compiled an outstanding winning record; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Ole Miss, Mr. Swayze played professional baseball for the Memphis Chicks from 1933 to 1935 in the old Southern Association and with Columbus and Cleveland in the Cotton States League before heading for the more lucrative semi-pro fields in Georgia, North Carolina and Canada; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Swayze was a successful football coach at Benoit, Mississippi, for five seasons and left in 1940 to enter the insurance business; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Swayze later ran a tire recapping plant in Yazoo City before reentering the world of coaching at Moss Point, Mississippi, where he coached football, basketball and was high school principal; and

WHEREAS, in 1947, Mr. Swayze became the South's first football recruiter when he returned to Ole Miss and was a pioneer in the area as other schools followed his lead; and

WHEREAS, as an assistant football coach, contact man and then field representative under John Vaught, Mr. Swayze served as chief recruiter through the 1971 season; and

WHEREAS, during Mr. Swayze's tenure with Ole Miss, the Rebels won six Southeastern Conference Championships in 1947, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1962 and 1963 and a share of three national championships in 1959, 1960 and 1962 recognized in the NCAA Record Book; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Swayze also served as head baseball coach at Ole Miss from 1951 to 1971, leading the Rebels to a 361-201-2 overall record and a 195-120-1 record in Southeastern Conference play; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Mr. Swayze's baseball teams captured four SEC baseball titles in 1959, 1960, 1964 and 1969 and three NCAA District III crowns in 1956, 1964 and 1969, which advanced the Rebels to the College World Series all three times; and

WHEREAS, the University of Mississippi's previous baseball diamond on All-America Drive was named in honor of Mr. Swayze on May 8, 1976, and the current baseball stadium on Old Taylor Road also bears his name, "Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field," which was dedicated on April 22, 1989; and

WHEREAS, after retiring from coaching at Ole Miss in 1971, Mr. Swayze was named as the Director of the Loyalty Foundation, a position he held until 1975; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Swayze returned to the baseball field briefly in the late 1980s to serve as a Volunteer Baseball Coach; and

WHEREAS, throughout his long and distinguished career, Mr. Swayze has received numerous honors and awards including being selected to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1978; being a charter member of the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, and being named to the American Association of College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1982; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Swayze was preceded in his death by six sisters and two brothers and is survived by his wife, Mary Clifton Swayze of Oxford; three daughters, Kay Swayze Alford of Ridgeland, Martha Rhodes Collins of Jackson, and Beth Rhodes Harris of Charlotte, North Carolina; five grandchildren, Swayze Alford, Phyllis Daniels, John Alford, Molly Harris and Sam Harris; four great-grandchildren, Lilli Alford, Grace Alford, Grant Daniels and Clayton Daniels; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Swayze and the late Phyllis Finch of Cleveland, Mississippi, were married in 1936 and their daughter, Kay is a 1961 Ole Miss graduate and the wife of former Ole Miss Athletic Director Warner Alford, who played football for the Rebels; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend outstanding Mississippians such as Mr. Swayze, who dedicated his life to guiding and teaching young people and to the University of Mississippi, an institution that will always be thankful for his many contributions:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do commend the life and accomplishments of Mr. Thomas King "Tom" Swayze and express our deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. Thomas King "Tom" Swayze and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.