MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Clarke, Simmons (13th), Burton, Michel, Parker, Dearing, Jordan, Simmons (12th), Jackson (11th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY AND ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER OF MISSISSIPPI SPORTS LEGEND DAVE MEADOW "BOO" FERRISS.
WHEREAS, the "Dean of Mississippi Baseball" is no longer with us. With extreme sadness we note the passing of Dave Meadow "Boo" Ferriss on November 24, 2016, at the age of 94, leaving behind an unimpeachable legacy as one of the game's great champions in the state before, during and after his legendary career as Delta State's Baseball Coach; and
WHEREAS, Boo Ferriss spent 46 years in college and pro baseball and won 639 games as the Statesmen's Head Coach. Delta State went to the NCAA Division II World Series three times under Coach Ferriss, made the playoffs in eight of his last 12 years and won four Conference Championships. Before his retirement in 1988, Coach Ferriss had produced 49 All-Conference players, 20 All-Americans and 23 that went on to professional careers. He won 46 games his first two years in the Majors and is a part of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, the difference he made for the game goes beyond statistics. Born in Shaw, Mississippi, on December 5, 1921, Ferriss earned his nickname because that's how, as a young boy, the word "brother" came out. He quickly became a standout athlete, so much so that Ferriss was the first player in Mississippi State baseball history to earn a full scholarship to the school. He was a right-handed pitcher and left-handed first baseman for the Bulldogs in 1941 and 1942 before signing with the Boston Red Sox and spending some time in the military during World War II. Ferriss' baseball career was interrupted by World War II. He served in the Army Air Corps until severe asthma forced a medical discharge in February 1945; and
WHEREAS, expecting to spend some time in the Minor Leagues, Ferriss was instead rushed up to the Majors and quickly made the Red Sox's decision look very good. In 1945, Ferriss won 21 games with a 2.96 ERA, throwing 26 complete games and five shutouts in 35 starts. He set a Major League record by winning his first eight games, all complete games and four shutouts. During those first eight starts, he defeated every other American League Team. He received Rookie of the Year Honors for his 21-10 record. He finished fourth in the MVP Annual Media Voting Award. The next year was even better: Ferriss won 26 games, was named an All-Star and threw a six-hit shutout in Game 3 of the 1946 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. He got the ball in Game 7 as well, pitching a no-decision in the Red Sox's eventual loss. Ferriss was one of the brightest young stars in all of baseball, but he suffered an injury, went 12-11 in 1947 and pitched in parts of the next three seasons before retiring as a player; and
WHEREAS, after several years as the Red Sox's Pitching Coach, Ferriss came to Delta State. In late 1959, Ferriss accepted the position of Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach at Delta State. There, he built one of the most successful college baseball programs in the United States, producing many championship teams as well as future baseball coaches. The Statesmen were never the same and not just because the program developed into one that the state's Division I powers avoided out of fear they would get beat. Ninety-five percent of Ferriss' ballplayers ended up graduating college, and as they left Delta State and went out into the world they continued to receive handwritten letters from their old coach. He would ask them about their wives, daughters and sons, and eventually their grandchildren. In addition to coaching duties, Ferriss served 19 years as Executive Director of the Delta State University Foundation. Upon his coaching retirement, the Delta State Baseball Field was named Ferriss Field. It is the centerpiece of one of the nation's most complete college baseball facilities, including a Boo Ferriss Museum and an indoor workout facility. In 2015, a statue of Ferriss was dedicated in his honor at the ballpark; and
WHEREAS, when Delta State finally won its first National Championship in 2004, its Coach, Mike Kinnison, climbed up into the stands and handed it to Ferriss. "He is Delta State Baseball"; and
WHEREAS, every college baseball coach to this day can tell you something they learned from Boo Ferriss, and it was only natural when the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, which inducted Ferriss in 1961, decided to name the award for the Top Collegiate Player in his honor; and
WHEREAS, Ferriss remained active in civic, community and church affairs into his 90s. A charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, he served as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and has long been recognized as Father and Founder of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Ferriss is survived by his wife, Miriam; two children, David and Margaret; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi's athletic legacy is unmatched because of legends like Boo Ferriss:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby pay tribute to the memory and illustrious career of Mississippi Sports Legend Dave Meadow "Boo" Ferriss and extend the sympathy of the Legislature to his surviving family on his passing, thanking them for his contributions to the athletic legacy of the State of Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Boo Ferriss, forwarded to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum and the President of Delta State University, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.