House Resolution 17

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. IDREES KENYATTA WALKER UPON HIS MANY OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

WHEREAS, Mr. Idrees Kenyatta Walker, a native of Meridian, Mississippi, was born on February 1, 1979; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Walker attended the Meridian Public Schools and was a student in the Lauderdale County School System, where his mother taught; and

WHEREAS, in 1997, Mr. Walker graduated from Meridian High School, where he was an exceptional football player and honored numerous times by his selection to The Meridian Star's All-County Football Team, The Clarion Ledger's All-State Football Team, the Mississippi Association of Coaches' All-Star Team, the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Team, and the USA Today's All-American Team; and

WHEREAS, having such a successful high school football career, Mr. Walker was highly recruited by hundreds of colleges and universities across the nation; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Walker selected the University of Florida in Gainesville and played football under the former Heisman Trophy winner, Coach Steve Spurrier; and

WHEREAS, as a Florida Gator, Mr. Walker achieved many honors and awards including starting as a freshman offensive right tackle, which he continued throughout his entire college career; named to the 1998 Football News Freshman All-American Football Team; selected to the 1999 All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) Football Team; selected to the 1999 SEC Football Academic Honor Roll; helped his team win the SEC 2000 Football Championship; named to the 2000 All-SEC Football Team; selected as 2000's Best Blocker in the SEC; and named as a Third Team Football News All-American; and

WHEREAS, in the spring of 2001, Mr. Walker became eligible for the National Football League Draft and was selected as the fourteenth player in the first round of the draft to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a six foot five inch, 300 pound offensive tackle; and

WHEREAS, in his short professional career as a Buccaneer, Mr. Walker has been named to the NFL's Rookie Team and led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first ever NFL division title and to win the 2003 Super Bowl XXXVII World Football Championship; and

WHEREAS, as an active member of the Boys and Girls Clubs program in his community as a young man, Mr. Walker continues to be an active participant in that organization by giving his time, money and other resources; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Walker has established the Kenyatta Walker Foundation, which he uses to support Boys and Girls Clubs across the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in 2002, Mr. Walker organized the first annual Kenyatta Walker Foundation Golf Tournament, which was cosponsored by Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore and brought more than 30 professional football players to participate at Dancing Rabbit Golf Course in Choctaw, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Walker has been lovingly supported throughout all his academic and athletic endeavors by his mother, Carolyn Walker Brantley and his sister, Khalilah Shanta Walker; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend outstanding Mississippians such as Mr. Walker, who has already accomplished so much in his young life and sets a fine example for the young people of this state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Idrees Kenyatta Walker for his outstanding accomplishments and community service and express our heartiest wishes for success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Idress Kenyatta Walker and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.