Senate Resolution 97

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MILDRETTE "MIDGE" NETTER GRAVES, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNER IN TRACK FROM ROSEDALE, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HER INDUCTION INTO THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2003.

WHEREAS, the Jackson Touchdown Club and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled the Class of 2003 of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, which features Mildrette "Midge" Netter Graves, Hall of Fame Olympic Gold Medal winner from Rosedale, Mississippi, who starred in track at Alcorn A & M (now Alcorn State); and

WHEREAS, Ms. Mildrette Graves attended West Bolivar High School where she participated in basketball, band, track and cheerleading; and

WHEREAS, she was three-time All SWAC and All-NAIA track performer at Alcorn from 1968-1972; and

WHEREAS, she was a member of the 4x100 relay team that won the Gold Medal for the United States in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, participated on AAU International track team that competed in Norway and Poland in 1968 and 1969, toured as part of the United States European Track and Field Tour between 1969-1970, and was named AAU Regional Outstanding Athlete and Female Athlete of the Year by the 100% Wrong Club of Atlanta, Georgia, in 1969; and

WHEREAS, Mildrette was a superb high school girls track coach for over 25 years at Leland, the Moss Point school system (Magnolia Junior High, Charlotte Hyatt and West Elementary) and Clarksdale; and

WHEREAS, she led her girls' track squads to four conference titles, ten district championships, two district runner-up finishes, four North State crowns and two South State banners; and

WHEREAS, she was five-time Delta Valley Conference girls track Coach of the Year, two-time Regional Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association; and she was selected as Olympic torchbearer in 1996 for the Atlanta Summer Olympics, enshrined in the Alcorn State Hall of Honor (1992), the SWAC Hall of Fame (1995), the Alcorn State Athletic Hall of Fame (1996), the Rosedale-West Bolivar High School Hall of Fame (1998), and the Bob Hayes Track Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding athlete who has brought honor to her university and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mildrette "Midge" Netter Graves, Olympic Gold Medal Winner in track from Rosedale, Mississippi, upon her induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2003, and wish her and her family continued success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Mildrette "Midge" Netter Graves at induction ceremonies to be held on April 4, 2003, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.