House Resolution 66

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING COACH HARRY BRELAND FOR HIS CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS UPON BEING SELECTED NFHS COACHES ASSOCIATION 2004 NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR IN BASEBALL.

WHEREAS, Coach Harry Breland, head baseball coach of the Oak Grove High School Warriors Baseball Team, has compiled an impressive career record of 745 wins and 205 losses since beginning his coaching career at Oak Grove; and

WHEREAS, Coach Breland, who began teaching at Oak Grove in 1971 after transferring from Purvis during the integration process, was tapped as the 2004 National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association, "National Coach of the Year" for his career coaching record, community service, involvement in other school activities, involvement in the education and coaching profession at the local, state and national levels and basic philosophy of athletics; and

WHEREAS, having led the Warriors' teams to eight state titles, ten South State titles, twelve Apache Conference Championships and twenty-one District Championships in the course of his career of coaching at Oak Grove, Coach Breland's impressive record has garnered him much recognition and commendation; and

WHEREAS, Coach Breland's pursuit of excellence has motivated the Warriors to play harder and inspired them to win in order to reach their goal, but even more so to strive for the team's ultimate goal, the Mississippi High School Activity Association Class 5A State Championship; and

WHEREAS, through his 34 years of coaching and conditioning, Coach Breland has superbly coached and inspired all of his teams' players, and has broadened their knowledge of the game and refined their skills in execution; and

WHEREAS, Coach Breland's exhibition of superior coaching technique has proven successful as evidenced by the great accomplishments he has achieved in his career; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence in the accomplishments of such an outstanding Mississippian as Coach Breland, whose rise to the top is continually in the making:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the accomplishments of Coach Harry Breland upon his selection as the 2004 NFHS Coaches Association "National Coach of the Year" in baseball.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coach Breland, Oak Grove High School and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.