MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jackson (15th), Ward, Burton, Butler (38th), Clarke, Collins, Davis, Dearing, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), McDaniel, Moffatt, Montgomery, Wilemon
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND SALUTING JACK CRISTIL UPON THE CONCLUSION OF HIS 54TH SEASON BEHIND THE MICROPHONE AS THE "VOICE OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS."
"You Can Wrap This One in Maroon and White!"
WHEREAS, Hall of Fame Mississippi State radio play-by-play personality Jack Cristil has announced that he intends to conclude his storied career as the "Voice of the Bulldogs." The announcement draws to a close a storied 58-year association between Cristil and Mississippi State University; and
WHEREAS, during his legendary career as the voice of the Bulldogs, Cristil called 636 football games since 1953, or roughly 60% of every football game played in the history of the institution. He is in his 54th season as the men's basketball play-by-play voice, having described the action of almost 55% of all men's basketball games played at the school. In all, Cristil delivered game description to Mississippi State fans across the Magnolia State and around the world for more than 1,500 collegiate contests; and
WHEREAS, from the opening whistle to the final horn, the color and excitement of Mississippi State football has filled the airways across the South each fall thanks to interviews, play-by-play and commentary by the legendary broadcaster Jack Cristil of Tupelo, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, Cristil is one of the South's most distinguished and most honored sports broadcasters. In 1997, Cristil received perhaps the crown jewel of sports broadcasting honors, the Chris Schenkel Award. He was the second winner of the award, selected by the National Football Foundation, after its namesake, the veteran ABC Sports commentator; and
WHEREAS, he has been honored by his peers in the broadcasting industry as the "Outstanding Broadcaster in Mississippi" (in conjunction with the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Awards) a record 21 times during his illustrious career. In 1988, he was selected by his SEC broadcasting colleagues as the league's top play-by-play announcer. In 1992, he was awarded two honors--the inaugural Ronald Reagan Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters, and election into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. He became the first nonathlete, nonathletic administrator ever to be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, in August 1953, Jack Cristil sent audition tapes to Mississippi State Director of Athletics C.R. "Dudy" Noble, and just one month later the association between Cristil and the university began. His announcing career began with a 34-6 win over then Memphis State in his Tennessee birthplace September 19, 1953. Appropriately, his last football game was State's 52-14 win against Michigan at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, this past January 1. Cristil's first basketball season was 1957-1958, the third of legendary Head Coach Babe McCarthy's tenure. Like football, his first men's basketball game was an 80-56 win at Union, in Jackson, Tennessee, the city in which he launched his broadcasting career 10 years earlier; and
WHEREAS, from 1947-1948, Cristil studied broadcast journalism at the University of Minnesota before returning home to Memphis and eventually launching his professional career. Cristil, who survives his late wife Mavis, is the father of two daughters, Kay Clouatre Cristil and Rebecca Nelson. He also has one grandson, Jake Clouatre, and one granddaughter, Lindsey Newhall. Cristil was born December 10, 1925, in Memphis; and
WHEREAS, for many MSU fans, Cristil has offered incredible consistency through the years by keeping analysis to a minimum and giving fans basic information which tells it "like it is." There is no more pleasing sound to the ear of MSU fans than the resonating voice of Jack Cristil giving his signature summation of a bulldog victory: "You can wrap this one in maroon and white"; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the career of Jack Cristil, whose nationally known style has brought excitement, honor and recognition to Mississippi State 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 salute Jack Cristil upon the conclusion of his 54th season behind the microphone as the "Voice of the Mississippi State Bulldogs" and extend to him our best wishes on the occasion of his retirement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Jack Cristil and his family, and be forwarded to the President of Mississippi State University and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps