MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 2nd Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Butler (36th), Simmons, Burton, Butler, Davis, Dearing, Fillingane, Harden, Hopson, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Montgomery
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE SPORTS LEGACIES OF COACH WILLIE E. "RAT" MCGOWAN, SR., AND COACH WILLIAM HENDRICK "BILL" FOSTER ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEDICATION OF THE ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BASEBALL STADIUM AND FIELD NAMED IN THEIR HONOR.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Senate Bill No. 2616, 2010 Regular Session, Alcorn State University is dedicating its baseball stadium in honor of former Coach Willie E. "Rat" McGowan, Sr., and its baseball field in honor of baseball star and former Coach William Hendrick "Bill" Foster; and
WHEREAS, Willie "Rat" McGowan, Sr., is a native of McComb, Mississippi. Mr. McGowan earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education at Alcorn State University, and his Master of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from Kansas State University; and
WHEREAS, Mr. McGowan made his way back to Alcorn in 1968 as Defensive Back Coach, where he remained part of the football staff until 1993. Over the course of his career at Alcorn State University, he wore many hats, helping to guide the Braves to nine Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships and four National Black College Championships, while acting twice as interim Athletic Director; and
Whereas, in addition to his football coaching duties, Coach McGowan also served as Head Baseball Coach and earned four SWAC Coach of the Year Awards, four Eastern Division Championships and one Eastern Division Tournament Championship. In 1998, Coach McGowan earned the prestigious honor of being named to the Alcorn State University's Sports Hall of Fame as a player and coach in football and baseball. He retired from the University in 2009 as the eldest coach in the SWAC conference; and
WHEREAS, he has been married to the former Doris Hamilton for 50 years. They have two sons, Reginald and Willie, Jr., and three grandchildren, Rahman, Jordan and Courtney; and
WHEREAS, William Hendrick "Bill" Foster played 15 seasons with the Negro Baseball League. He led the team to the Negro World Series in 1926 and 1927, setting a league record with 18 wins against only three losses in 1927; and
WHEREAS, during his baseball career, Mr. Foster had pursued his educational goals in the off-seasons. After retiring from baseball in 1960, he became the Dean of Men and coached for many years at Alcorn A&M College, a position that he held until 1972. He died in 1978 at the age of 74 on the Alcorn campus. Coach Foster was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on March 5, 1996; and
WHEREAS, Coach Foster was married to Audrey Simmons Foster; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the baseball legacies of these legendary players and coaches and the rich sports tradition of Alcorn State University:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the sports legacies of Coach Willie E. "Rat" McGowan, Sr., and Coach William Hendrick "Bill" Foster on the occasion of the dedication of the Alcorn State University baseball stadium and field named in their honor, and extend to the Alcorn State University family our best wishes on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the families of Coach McGowan and Coach Foster, forwarded to the President and the Athletic Director of Alcorn State University and the Commissioner of Higher Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.