SJ437: Commending Bruce Smith.
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, is recognized for his outstanding professional football career and his election to the National Football League (NFL) Hall of Fame on January 31, 2009, in his first year of eligibility; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith was born on June 18, 1963, in Norfolk and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, where he was a stellar athlete destined for greatness; and
WHEREAS, known as “The Sack Man,” Bruce Smith played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies, where he had a career total of 71 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for losses totaling 504 yards and 46 career quarterback sacks; he won the prestigious Outland Trophy as America’s top lineman in 1984; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith was drafted by the Buffalo Bills as the number one draft pick overall in the 1985 NFL Draft; and
WHEREAS, one of the most intimidating pass rushers in NFL history, Bruce Smith was known as a sack specialist, with a personal season-best of 19 sacks in 1990 and at least 10 sacks in 14 of his 19 NFL seasons; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith finished his 19-year professional football career with the Washington Redskins, where he became the NFL’s all-time sack leader; and
WHEREAS, during his 279 NFL games, Bruce Smith amassed 200 sacks, 2 interceptions, 46 forced fumbles, and 15 fumble recoveries; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith was named to the NFL All-Pro First Team nine times and selected to play in the NFL Pro Bowl 11 times; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith is a 2005 inductee of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, a 2006 inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame, and a member of the 2008 inaugural class inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith, one of Virginia’s most exciting and talented athletes of all-time, will be inducted into the National Football League Hall of Fame along with five other players on August 9, 2009, in Canton, Ohio; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Bruce Smith, a Virginia native son, on his outstanding professional football career and his induction into the National Football League Hall of Fame; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Bruce Smith as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation of his extraordinary achievements and best wishes for success in all of his future endeavors.
Patrons-- Wagner, Barker, Blevins, Colgan, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Edwards, Hanger, Herring, Houck, Howell, Hurt, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, McEachin, Miller, J.C., Miller, Y.B., Norment, Northam, Obenshain, Petersen, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Smith, Stolle, Stosch, Stuart, Ticer, Vogel, Wampler, Watkins and Whipple; Delegates: Mathieson and Tata
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, is recognized for his outstanding professional football career and his election to the National Football League (NFL) Hall of Fame on January 31, 2009, in his first year of eligibility; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith was born on June 18, 1963, in Norfolk and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, where he was a stellar athlete destined for greatness; and
WHEREAS, known as “The Sack Man,” Bruce Smith played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies, where he had a career total of 71 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for losses totaling 504 yards and 46 career quarterback sacks; he won the prestigious Outland Trophy as America's top lineman in 1984; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith was drafted by the Buffalo Bills as the number one draft pick overall in the 1985 NFL Draft; and
WHEREAS, one of the most intimidating pass rushers in NFL history, Bruce Smith was known as a sack specialist, with a personal season-best of 19 sacks in 1990 and at least 10 sacks in 14 of his 19 NFL seasons; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith finished his 19-year professional football career with the Washington Redskins, where he became the NFL's all-time sack leader; and
WHEREAS, during his 279 NFL games, Bruce Smith amassed 200 sacks, 2 interceptions, 46 forced fumbles, and 15 fumble recoveries; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith was named to the NFL All-Pro First Team nine times and selected to play in the NFL Pro Bowl 11 times; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith is a 2005 inductee of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, a 2006 inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame, and a member of the 2008 inaugural class inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Smith, one of Virginia’s most exciting and talented athletes of all-time, will be inducted into the National Football League Hall of Fame along with five other players on August 9, 2009, in Canton, Ohio; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Bruce Smith, a Virginia native son, on his outstanding professional football career and his induction into the National Football League Hall of Fame; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Bruce Smith as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation of his extraordinary achievements and best wishes for success in all of his future endeavors.