MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2008 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Browning, Burton, Butler, Carmichael, Clarke, Dearing, Fillingane, Frazier, Hopson, Jackson (15th), Lee (35th), Mettetal, Stone
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING OLE MISS, ALL-SEC AND ALL-WNBA BASKETBALL STAR JENNIFER GILLOM FROM ABBEVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HER INDUCTION INTO THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2008.
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2008, which features Jennifer Gillom from Abbeville, Mississippi, All-SEC and All-WNBA basketball star from the University of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer Gillom is easily the most decorated female athlete in the history of Ole Miss. She received the 1986 SEC
Female Athlete of the Year honor along with Auburn running back Bo Jackson, the Heisman Trophy winner and SEC Male Athlete of the Year. The Gillom family is one of the most famous athletic families in the history of Ole Miss athletics; and
WHEREAS, her athletic achievements are almost too numerous to mention:
· 2003 WNBA Los Angeles Sparks, played in 33 games, 3.1
points per game, 4.5 rebounds, WNBA Career Totals
(regular season): 216 games, 13.4 points per game,
4.5 rebounds per game, among top 20 rebounders in WNBA
league history, averaged 15.3 points per game and 5
rebounds per game over WNBA career, played in the first
WNBA All-Star Game, July 14, 2000, named
first team WNBA, 1998 and named 2nd team WNBA, 1997;
· 2002 USA Basketball World Championship Team;
· Ole Miss Sports Facility named for Jennifer and her
sister Peggie, April 28, 2000-Gillom Sports Center;
· Inducted into the Ole Miss Athletic Hall of Fame, 1999;
· WNBA Phoenix Mercury, 1997 to 2002, helped lead team to
1998 WNBA Finals, 2002, 31 games, 15.3 points per game,
3.7 rebounds per game; 2001, 32 games, 12.3 points per
game, 4 rebounds per game; 2000, 30 games, 12.5 points
per game, 3.9 rebounds per game; 1999, 32 games,
15.2 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game; 1998, 30
games, 20.8 points per game, 7.3 rebounds; 1997, 28
games, 15.7 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game;
· Italian Professional Basketball League teams: Riberto,
Italy 2002-2004; Taranto, Italy 2001-2002; Istanbul,
Turkey 1999-2001; Athens, Greece 1998-1999; Messina,
Italy 1995-1998; 1995 League MVP, leading scorer in
league, Ancona, Italy 1992-1995; 1994 League MVP,
leading scorer in league, Milan, Italy 1988-1992;
· 1988 Gold Medal U.S. Olympic Team, Seoul, South Korea
Olympics;
· Ole Miss Lady Rebels Basketball, 1982-1986; lettered four
years for the Lady Rebels; played 126 games, 2,186 points,
17.3 points per game, 955 rebounds, 7.9 rebounds per game;
member of 2,000 Point Club, along with her sister,
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame member Peggie Gillom,
one of only two players in Lady Rebels history to be named
to the All-SEC team three or more years (the late Eugenia
Conner, the other Lady Rebel to be so honored);
second leading scorer in Lady Rebel history; third leading
rebounder in school history with 955 rebounds; one of only
six players in school history to record 1,000 points, 600
rebounds, 100 assists, 100 steals in a career, holds
season records for points in a season (742 in 1985-1986)
and scoring average for a season (23.3 points per game
in 1985-1986), and 1986 SEC Female Athlete of the Year;
· 1985-1986 Ole Miss Lady Rebels, team record 24-8, 6-3 SEC
NCAA Tournament, Elite Eight; Kodak All-America Team,
Kodak All-District Team; MVP of NCAA Tournament Midwest
Region, All-Region Team; 1st team All-SEC, led SEC in
scoring; 1984 All-SEC Tournament Team; Basketball
Sportswoman of the Year; 1985 (U.S. Olympic Committee);
Jackson Clarion Ledger/Daily News Sportswoman of the
Year; 1985 played in World University Games; Team MVP;
played in 32 games, 742 points, 23.2 points per game, 254
rebounds, and 7 rebounds per game;
· 1984-1985 Ole Miss Lady Rebels, team record 29-3, 8-0
SEC; NCAA Tournament Elite Eight; 1985 Kodak All-District
Team; NCAA Tournament All-Region Team; First Team All-SEC;
All-SEC Tournament Team; Team MVP; played in 32 games,
583 points, 18.2 points per game, 231 rebounds, 7.2
rebounds per game;
· 1983-1984 Ole Miss Lady Rebels, team record 24-6, 6-2 SEC;
NCAA Tournament appearance; First Team All-SEC; Team MVP;
played in 30 games, 546 points, 18.2 points per game, 272
rebounds, 9.1 rebounds per game;
· 1982-1983 Ole Miss Lady Rebels, team record 26-6, 6-2 SEC;
NCAA Tournament appearance; played in 32 games, 315
points, 9.8 points per game, 198 rebounds, 6.2 rebounds
per game;
· Abbeville High School, Abbeville, MS, 1979-1982, Team
Captain, 3 years, scored 3,006 points, All-America, 1982,
All-State, 1982; Mississippi High
School Player of the Year, 1982; led team to State Class A
Championship, 1982; Tri-Lakes Conference MVP; Best
Offensive Player, 1982;
WHEREAS, her community and civic involvement is considerable:
· Phoenix Mercury Community Relations Department,
2001-2002; Spokesperson for the WNBA "Be Active Program"
to speak to youths on the benefits of being physically
fit;
· Active in WNBA Breast Health Awareness Program, worked
for the Phoenix Get-Fit Program;
· Conducted clinics for preschool children;
· Awarded key to the City of Oxford, Mississippi;
· Received Award of Distinction, 1999, the award recognizes
African-American Mississippians for their achievements;
· Student Coordinator of Wesley Foundation at Ole Miss;
· Bible Study Teacher, active member of church choirs;
· Volunteer, Special Olympics, March of Dimes Six-Mile Walk;
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding athlete whose name is part of the fabric of athletics at the University of Mississippi and who has brought great honor to her community 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 Ole Miss, All-SEC and All-WNBA basketball star Jennifer Gillom from Abbeville, Mississippi, upon her induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2008, and wish her and her family continued success in all their future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Jennifer Gillom at induction ceremonies on August 1, 2008, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.