House Concurrent Resolution 36

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE CAREER, SUCCESS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MR. VERNON PERRY AS PRESIDENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

WHEREAS, athlete par excellence and community servant extraordinaire are just a few of the adjectives that are akin to the likes of Vernon Perry, former member of the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints, and current President of the Mississippi Chapter of the National Football League Players' Association; and

WHEREAS, a lifelong native of Jackson, Mississippi, and a Wingfield High School graduate, Perry's unmitigated athleticism

paved the yellow brick road to success as a standout strong safety for Jackson State University, and eventually professionally in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL); and

WHEREAS, Perry, who played one season with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL from 1977-1978, and five seasons in the NFL beginning with the Houston Oilers from 1979-1982 and the New Orleans Saints during the 1983 season, has taken the act of kindness shown in giving back to the community and transformed it into an art of generosity and call to action; and

WHEREAS, best known for his stellar performances with the Oilers in the 1979 American Football Conference (AFC) playoffs against the San Diego Chargers when he blocked a field goal and returned it 57 yards before being tackled by the holder to set a NFL postseason record by intercepting 4 passes from Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts, and intercepted a Terry Bradshaw pass and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown on Pittsburgh's first possession of the game in the AFC Championship, Perry continued to exude that star power locally through his affiliation with the Jackson Chapter of the National Football League Players' Association; and

WHEREAS, with a focus on giving back to the underprivileged and less fortunate, Mr. Perry championed the Association's annual Celebrity Bike Giveaway in 2014, which seeks to provide new bicycles to needy and deserving kids during the Christmas season, and has enlisted the help of other former players including Glen Collins, Rodney A. Phillips, Noland Smith, Willie Richardson, Ollie Smith, Leon Seals, Jeffery Moore, Mike Jones, Frank Sutton and Jerome Jennings among others; and

WHEREAS, the annual events have become a collaborative effort between the Association and its newfound supporting affiliates such as: Wal-Mart, which has assembled and delivered the bicycles to Smith-Wills Stadium; the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, which has provided helmets to recipients of bicycles; the Army Reserve 365th Combat Sustainment Battalion; and numerous school coaches in the area; and

WHEREAS, while his career in the professional football arena may have been abbreviated, Perry's notable presence in Jackson and throughout Mississippi is indelibly etched in the minds of those who have benefited from his generous benevolence through his community involvement, teaching at Jackson State University, as well as through his business "32 Sports," a sportswear and sports memorabilia retail store; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend the selfless acts of kindness displayed by the true ambassadors of this state of Mr. Perry's caliber, whose generosity continues to shed light on the State of Mississippi as the "hospitality state":

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the career, success and contributions of Mr. Vernon Perry as President of the Mississippi Chapter of the National Football League Players' Association, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Vernon Perry and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.