Senate Concurrent Resolution 625

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION JOINING THE CITY OF VICKSBURG IN THE CELEBRATION HONORING HALL OF FAME COACH HOUSTON MARKHAM, JR.

WHEREAS, on June 30, 2017, the City of Vicksburg, Mississippi, will be partnering with the Houston Markham, Jr., Day Committee, the Warren County Board of Supervisors, the Vicksburg-Warren School District, the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, the Red Carpet Bowl Committee, and the Mississippi Legislature to honor Legendary Football Coach Houston Markham; and

WHEREAS, Houston Markham, Jr., was born December 20, 1942, in Brookhaven, Mississippi. He graduated from Alexander High School in Brookhaven before he enrolled at Alcorn State University, where he played on the football team as an offensive lineman for four years. He received a Bachelor of Science degree with an endorsement in Health and Physical Education in 1965 and a Master of Arts degree in Health and Physical Education from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1971; and

WHEREAS, he is married to the former Annie Pearl Davis from Jackson, Mississippi. They have two children, Tolanda Markham-Huntley (Steve) and Houston III (Mary). He also has two grandchildren, the apple of his eye, Payton Lemara and Houston (Cody) Markham IV; and

WHEREAS, from 1965-1966 he was an Assistant Coach at Eva Gorden Attendance Center in Magnolia, Mississippi. From 1967-1987 he served as Head Football Coach at Rosa A. Temple and Vicksburg High Schools, with 65 wins, 16 losses, 3 ties and a winning streak of 40 consecutive games. While Head Football Coach at Rosa A. Temple High School, his 1969-1970 and 1973-1974 teams participated in and won the Red Carpet Bowl Championship. From 1975-1987 he was an Assistant Coach at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. While at Vicksburg High School, he served as an Assistant Football Coach of the Mississippi High School All-Star Game in 1973, coaching the No. 1 Team in Mississippi, Vicksburg High School Gators. He accepted the Head Football Coaching Position at Alabama State University in 1987 and that same year was named Sheridan Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, a few of Coach Houston Markham, Jr.'s notable professional achievements are: named Coach of the Year by the Mississippi Big 8 Conference, 1973-1974; won two Mississippi Big 8 Conference Championships; won the Red Carpet Bowl in 1969-1970 and 1973-1974. Coach Markham has been inducted into the Alcorn State University, Jackson State University and Alabama State University Halls of Fame, and has a complex named in his honor at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama. Just as Vicksburg is the Key to the South, Coach Markham was the key to many of our "Dream Stories"; and

WHEREAS, Coach Markham was an outstanding Coach who had a profound and lasting effect on the players he coached. He was an inspirational leader who taught his players to be strong men of integrity on and off the field. His legacy and accomplishments afford him to be mentioned with some of the great coaches in his era; and it is with great pride that we honor and celebrate this iconic Mississippi sports legend:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby join the City of Vicksburg in the celebration honoring Hall of Fame Coach Houston Markham, Jr., and extend our best wishes to Coach Markham and his family on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to

Honorable Mayor George Flaggs, Jr., and Coach Markham at the celebration in his honor on June 30, 2017, at Vicksburg Junior High School, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.