Senate Concurrent Resolution 539

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING M.K. TURK, RENOWNED HALL OF FAME CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL COACH AT COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, LIVINGSTON UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2005.

WHEREAS, the Jackson Touchdown Club and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled the Class of 2005 of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, which features M.K. Turk, renowned Hall of Fame Championship Basketball Coach at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Livingston University and the University of Southern Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, a native of Bardwell, Kentucky, Coach Turk was an All-State and All-Conference basketball player at Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and Livingston University from 1960-1964; and

WHEREAS, he coached at Cobb County, Georgia, and Livingston University before being named Head Coach at Copiah-Lincoln Community College; from 1968-1974, he led the Wolves hoopsters to consecutive Mississippi Junior College titles in 1972-1973 and 1973-1974, an overall record of 117-43, plus national rankings and appearances in the National Junior College Tournament; he was picked as National Junior College Athletic Association Regional Coach of the Year in 1974; and

WHEREAS, M.K. Turk coached at Memphis State before being named Head Coach at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he guided the Golden Eagle basketball program to an overall record of 301-266 in his 20 seasons as Head Coach plus 8 post season appearances and national rankings; and

WHEREAS, he was the winningest coach in USM history and led the Golden Eagles to back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament and the 1987 NIT Championship, the first national hoops crown for any Mississippi Division 1A school; he led Southern Miss to the 1990-1991 Metro Conference regular season championship and the 1995 Metro Conference Tournament title; and

WHEREAS, he was named Coach of the Year by The Clarion-Ledger and the Babe McCarthy Tip-Off Club in 1981; he was selected as Metro Conference Coach of the Year in 1986 and NIT Coach of the Year in 1987; and he was also honored as Coach of the Year by the Mississippi Sportswriters Association in 1990 and 1991; and

WHEREAS, after induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, he will be enshrined in four athletic halls of fame, including the Livingston University Athletic Hall of Fame (1981), the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Sports Hall of Fame (1987), and the Southern Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame (1991); and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding coach who has brought honor to his college, 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 M.K. Turk, renowned Hall of Fame Championship Basketball Coach at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Livingston University and the University of Southern Mississippi, upon his induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2005, and wish him and his family continued success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach M.K. Turk at induction ceremonies, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.