08 LC 95
0686
Senate
Resolution 1112
By:
Senators Hawkins of the 49th and Murphy of the 27th
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and commending Phil Niekro as the recipient of the Gainesville Kiwanis Club
Youth Service Award; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the Youth Service Award is the highest honor the Gainesville Kiwanis Club can
bestow, and it is awarded annually to a person who has rendered dedicated and
outstanding service to the youth in the community; and
WHEREAS,
on March 18, 2008, Phil Niekro will receive the Gainesville Kiwanis Club Youth
Service Award for his exemplary work on behalf of children and youth;
and
WHEREAS,
a longtime symbol of the Atlanta Braves, Phil Niekro holds many major league
records, nearly all of which are a result of his trademark pitch, the
knuckleball, which kept him in the majors until he was 48; and
WHEREAS,
there was little indignation in Atlanta when he finally signed with the Yankees
as a free agent, the consensus being that he deserved an opportunity to pitch
for a contending team; and
WHEREAS,
his effectiveness did not falter with age, and in his forties he fashioned a
17-4 mark with Atlanta in 1982, and at age 45 he went 16-8 for the Yankees;
and
WHEREAS,
he became the 13th pitcher to win 300 games and at age 46 he was the oldest
hurler ever to pitch a complete game shutout; and
WHEREAS,
his character and ability to master the most difficult pitch will always be
recognized, but there is another side to Phil Niekro and that is his deep
commitment to the children and youth in this state; and
WHEREAS,
through his efforts on behalf of children and youth, he has helped to raise
millions of dollars for children's health organizations, agencies serving abused
children, and sports facilities for physically challenged youth, always having
time to stop and help lift a child up; and
WHEREAS,
he has truly immersed himself in making dreams come true for children and the
agencies that serve them, and his passion shines through as he recruits others
to join him in his efforts; and
WHEREAS,
he has been instrumental in raising funds for the Edmondson Telford Center for
Children, helping thousands of children, and he is working with the Field of
Dreams, a million dollar project to create a sports complex for physically
challenged children; and
WHEREAS,
he is not a newcomer to the effort of helping youth, raising money in the late
1970's and early 1980's to bring about national awareness of spina bifida,
hosting the Phil Niekro Golf Classic for ten years, helping to raise in excess
of $10 million for Egleston' s Children Hospital, and being recognized both
locally and nationally for his outstanding efforts in this area.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join
together to commend Phil Niekro for his decades of efficient, effective,
unselfish, and dedicated efforts on behalf of children and youth in this
state.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution Phil Niekro.