Senate Concurrent Resolution 579

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING RAYMOND BROWN, ALL-AMERICAN, ALL-SEC AND NFL FOOTBALL STAR FROM GREENVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME, CLASS OF 2006.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled the Class of 2006, which features Raymond Brown from Greenville, Mississippi, All-American and All-SEC football star for the Ole Miss Rebels and championship NFL football star for the Baltimore Colts; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Brown, outstanding All-SEC football star, who played on championship teams with the Ole Miss Rebels and the NFL's Baltimore Colts, was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and raised in Greenville, Mississippi, where he earned 11 letters in athletics in four sports (football, baseball, basketball and track); and

WHEREAS, he was two-time All-American and All-State selection at Greenville High School and a member of the Wigwam Wiseman and Scholastic magazine, 1953 First Team All-American Team, an All Big Eight two-way player who led Greenville to 1953s Big Eight State Championship and was named Big Eight MVP; and

WHEREAS, he lettered in two sports (football and baseball) at Ole Miss from 1954-1957, was coached by Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame member Johnny Vaught and helped the Rebels compile a three-year record of 26-5-1, including a 14-13 win over Texas Christian University in the 1956 Cotton Bowl, a 39-7 win over Texas in the 1958 Sugar Bowl, and the 1955 SEC Championship; and

WHEREAS, Raymond was a member of the 1956 baseball squad that played in the College World Series, led the SEC in passing and total offense in consecutive seasons and was named First Team All-SEC by United Press International, second team All-SEC by Associated Press and International News Service in 1957; and

WHEREAS, he was the only unanimous MVP in the history of the Sugar Bowl and a member of the All-Time Sugar Bowl Team (1955-1962), his famed 92-yard run in the Sugar Bowl is still a record, he played in the 1958 Senior Bowl and the 1958 Chicago All-Star game; and

WHEREAS, Brown was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the fifth round (50th overall pick) in the 1958 NFL Draft, Raymond played three seasons in the NFL as defensive back, quarterback, punter and kick holder from 1958 through 1960; and

WHEREAS, he was a member of two NFL championship teams as the Colts defeated the New York Giants in the 1958 and 1959 NFL title games; and

WHEREAS, he was the youngest person to ever serve as President of The Mississippi Bar; and

WHEREAS, Raymond is a member of the Ole Miss Athletic Hall of Fame (1988) and the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame (2000); and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding athlete and attorney who has brought honor to his community, 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 Raymond Brown, All-American, All-SEC and NFL football star from Greenville, Mississippi, upon his induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2006, and wish him and his family continued success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Raymond Brown at induction ceremonies, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.