Senate Concurrent Resolution 541

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING CHARLIE RUGG, HALL OF FAME BELHAVEN COLLEGE BASKETBALL AND TENNIS COACH, 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 Charlie Rugg, Hall of Fame Basketball and Tennis Coach who led the Belhaven Blazers to national tennis championships; and

WHEREAS, a native of Farmerville, Louisiana, Charlie Rugg was an outstanding baseball pitcher who signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949 at age 17, but an injury cut short his promising pro baseball career; he completed college degrees at Louisiana Tech, Colorado and LSU; and

WHEREAS, Charlie led Athens High Basketball Team in Athens, Louisiana, to a record of 79-15 and Louisiana State Championship; and

WHEREAS, he coached with Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame member Jack Carlisle at Jackson Murrah from 1956-1962; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rugg coached football, baseball, basketball and golf at Murrah; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rugg served as Athletic Director and Head Basketball and Tennis Coach at Belhaven College from 1963-1995; he was known as a demanding coach who was intense on the basketball and tennis courts; he paced the Belhaven hoops team to a mark of 312-310; he guided the Blazer basketball team to NAIA District titles and NAIA National Tournament appearances; he was six-time NAIA Basketball Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, he built the Belhaven tennis team into a national power as his Blazers won 15 consecutive District and Conference Championships in NAIA; Rugg's 1983 Blazers tennis squad captured the NAIA National Tennis Championship; his Belhaven netters finished the NAIA National Top Ten rankings 12 times with six top five finishes; he was named NAIA District and Conference Tennis Coach of the Year for an amazing 15 consecutive years; his Belhaven program produced 10 NAIA All-Americans, two NAIA National Singles Champions and one National Doubles Champion; and

WHEREAS, from 1975 to 1985, Coach Rugg's Belhaven tennis team compiled a record of 179-44; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rugg was one of the "Founding Fathers" of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, charter member of the Belhaven Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993 and inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1996; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding coach who has brought honor to his college 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 Charlie Rugg, Hall of Fame Belhaven College Basketball and Tennis Coach, 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 Rugg at induction ceremonies, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.