05 LC 98
0716
Senate
Resolution 443
By:
Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Rogers of the 21st, Pearson of the 51st and Smith
of the 52nd
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and honoring Mr. Raymond Parks for his contributions to the sport of auto
racing; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
as a man of keen foresight, Mr. Raymond Parks was one of the first people to
realize the potential of auto racing to become a major spectator sport, and he
spent great sums of his own time and money to make it happen; and
WHEREAS,
he owned a fleet of beautifully prepared race cars driven by the most talented
drivers of his time; and
WHEREAS,
among those chosen elite who wheeled his cars were Bob Flock, Fonty Flock, Lloyd
Seay, Roy Hall, and Bill France, Sr., who went on to found NASCAR;
and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Parks's cars, prepared by Hall of Fame mechanic Red Vogt, were the class of
the field at most events, including NASCAR's first race in 1948 on the sand at
Daytona Beach, Florida; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Parks, who still operates several businesses from his office on Northside
Drive in Atlanta, owns dozens of trophies from races in the 1940's but left the
sport soon after his driver Red Byron won the inaugural championship of the
division now known as Nextel Cup in 1949; and
WHEREAS,
in 1995, he was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of
Fame and has also been inducted into the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame
Association; and
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia is celebrating Atlanta Motor Speedway Day at the Capitol on
March 16, 2005, and it is only fitting and proper that the remarkable
achievements of this hometown racing legend be appropriately recognized on this
grand occasion.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in recognizing Mr. Raymond Parks and honor his legacy as a founding figure in the sport of auto racing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in recognizing Mr. Raymond Parks and honor his legacy as a founding figure in the sport of auto racing.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Mr. Raymond Parks.