House Resolution 63

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING EAST MARION EAGLES HIGH SCHOOL COACH LESLIE PETERS FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, after 38 years at the helm of the East Marion Eagles Football Team in Columbia, Mississippi, Head Coach Leslie Peters will be retiring; and

WHEREAS, Coach Peters' decision to retire comes after winning the 2006 Class 2A State Championship; and

WHEREAS, his retirement ends a successful tenure for the East Marion Eagles in which he has coached the team 21 out of 25 times to the State play-offs and the team has won two Mississippi State Championships, two South State titles, two Runner-up South State titles, nine district titles, six runner-up district titles, five regional titles and four additional regional titles; and

WHEREAS, to add to his many accomplishments, his athletic direction and motivation were the foundation for three individuals to become professional football players and several players to become semi-pro football players; and

WHEREAS, this coach's marvelous contributions to the game were memorialized when he was inducted into the Jackson State University Athletic Hall of Fame and into the Mississippi Coaches Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, his athletic prowess has gained him notoriety and resulted in him being named the All-Area Coach of the Year by the Hattiesburg American and the All-State Coach of the Year by The Clarion-Ledger, being designated as the Assistant and Head Coach in the Bernard Blackwell Mississippi High School All-Star Classic and being honored as District Coach of the Year eight times; and

WHEREAS, Coach Peters has achieved many firsts in his career, he was the first African-American coach to win the Class 3A State Championship, the first African-American coach to be named The Clarion-Ledger All-State Coach of the Year and the first African-American coach to be designated as the Head Coach in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Classic; and

WHEREAS, he has been supported in his successful athletic endeavors by his loving wife of 36 years, Dorothy, and two children, Leslie DeNard and Gladys; and

WHEREAS, during his many accomplishments, he has always given honor to God and actively participated as a member of John the Baptist Church, where he serves as Deacon and treasurer; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the successes of this outstanding coach who has brought honor to East Marion High School and his community:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend East Marion Eagles High School Coach Leslie Peters for his many years of service and congratulate him upon his retirement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coach Leslie Peters and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.