House Resolution 132

A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LEGACY OF RALPH WADE BRUCE UPON BEING MEMORIALIZED BY SHANNON HIGH SCHOOL UPON ITS NAMING THE SHANNON HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL-SOFTBALL COMPLEX THE "RALPH BRUCE FIELD."

WHEREAS, the late, longtime Shannon High School basketball and baseball coach, Ralph Wade Bruce, is being memorialized by Shannon High School in its decision to name the baseball field in his honor; and

WHEREAS, a standout athlete at Saltillo High School, Itawamba Community College and Mississippi College, Coach Bruce began his 23-year coaching career at Shannon in 1970, during which time his teams earned championship honors in the Little Ten and Tombigbee Conference and advancing to the state play-offs; and

WHEREAS, Coach Bruce led the 1974 Lady Raiders basketball team to the Class 1A State Championship and to runner-up status in the prestigious Grand Slam Tournament, and became the first coach in the school's history to lead the boys team to the state playoff tournament in Jackson; and

WHEREAS, instrumental in founding the Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association of Better Baseball, he was named "Coach of the Year" by that organization in 1994; and

WHEREAS, in a resolution duly adopted by the Lee County School Board, Coach Bruce's life, legacy and contributions to the school's athletic program will be commemorated by the board in its naming the baseball field at Shannon High School Baseball-Softball Complex the "Ralph Bruce Field"; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend the life of Coach Bruce upon the bestowing of this posthumous honor to be shared by his surviving family members: wife, Nancy Hamilton Bruce; his mother, Mavis; brother, Johnny; children, Leslie, Jacob, Casey and John Paul; his grandchildren; and remaining family and a host of friends:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life, legacy and contributions of Ralph Wade Bruce, upon the naming of the Shannon High School Baseball-Softball Complex as the "Ralph Bruce Field" in his honor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Coach Ralph Wade Bruce, Shannon High School and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.