HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 996 Offered February 19, 2007 Commending Taylor Edwards. ---------- Patron-- Armstrong ----------

WHEREAS, Taylor Edwards will retire in 2007 after 25 years as a physical education instructor and the head football coach at Martinsville High School; and

WHEREAS, Taylor Edwards attended Martinsville High School and played football for Coach J.B. Heldrot and basketball on the first of Coach "Husky" Hall's seven state championship teams; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Martinsville High School in 1966, Taylor Edwards spent a year at Hargrave Military Academy, where he played football, basketball, and baseball and participated in track events; and

WHEREAS, Taylor Edwards went to Middle Tennessee State University from 1967 to 1971 on a football scholarship and was the football team's co-captain his senior year; and

WHEREAS, from 1972 to 1974, Taylor Edwards taught physical education and coached football and baseball at Titusville High School in Titusville, Florida; and

WHEREAS, while working on a master's degree at Troy State University in Alabama, Taylor Edwards coached defensive backs for the university football team and then returned to Florida to teach and coach at Melbourne High School; and

WHEREAS, in 1977, Taylor Edwards returned to Martinsville to be director of the Nautilus Health and Fitness Center, and the following year he was hired as the assistant football coach under Dick Hensley and head baseball coach at Martinsville High School; and

WHEREAS, in 1982, Taylor Edwards was named head football coach at Martinsville, and during his 25 years leading the Bulldogs, the team won 203 games, 12 district championships, and 7 regional championships, and in 1988, they brought home the state championship; and

WHEREAS, Taylor Edwards demonstrated enormous dedication, wisdom, and leadership as a teacher and coach, and he had a positive impact on the lives of many students at Martinsville High School; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Taylor Edwards for his many years of service to the students and community of Martinsville; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Taylor Edwards as an expression of the General Assembly's best wishes for a rewarding retirement.