HR511: Commending James J. Riley, Jr.
WHEREAS, James J. Riley, Jr., a competitive clogger from Suffolk, was awarded Grand Champion of the Melvin Sloan dance-off at America’s Clogging Hall of Fame World Championships in October 2013; and
WHEREAS, exhibiting a passion for clogging at a young age, James J. “Shamus” Riley, Jr., joined the Peanut City Cloggers (PCC) at the age of seven; and
WHEREAS, in 1995, Shamus Riley was chosen as an “All American Clogger” by America’s Clogging Hall of Fame (ACHF), the first PCC to achieve the award; and
WHEREAS, upon graduating from Lakeland High School, Shamus Riley received a dance scholarship with the Bailey Mountain Cloggers of Mars Hill College, where he won several national titles with the dance team; and
WHEREAS, after receiving a bachelor’s degree from Mars Hill College, Shamus Riley returned to Suffolk and Lakeland High School, where he teaches children with autism, and to the PCC, where he serves as the team’s Instructing Director; and
WHEREAS, a very dedicated and talented clogger, Shamus Riley has been named by ACHF to the Team of the Decade in 2000, competed on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, performed in the Folkmoot International Dance Competition, represented the United States at the Appalachian and Music Bluegrass Festival in Northern Ireland, and was a member of ACHF’s Team of the Millennium; and
WHEREAS, as the Grand Champion of the Melvin Sloan dance-off, where first place finishers from preliminary competitions throughout the year compete against one another, Shamus Riley earned an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry on April 5, 2014; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That James J. Riley, Jr., hereby be commended for being awarded Grand Champion of the Melvin Sloan dance-off at America’s Clogging Hall of Fame World Championships; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to James J. Riley, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect and admiration for his continued passion and commitment to the art of clogging.
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 511
WHEREAS, James J. Riley, Jr., a competitive clogger from Suffolk, was awarded Grand Champion of the Melvin Sloan dance-off at America’s Clogging Hall of Fame World Championships in October 2013; and
WHEREAS, exhibiting a passion for clogging at a young age, James J. “Shamus” Riley, Jr., joined the Peanut City Cloggers (PCC) at the age of seven; and
WHEREAS, in 1995, Shamus Riley was chosen as an “All American Clogger” by American’s Clogging Hall of Fame (ACHF), the first PCC to achieve the award; and
WHEREAS, upon graduating from Lakeland High School, Shamus Riley received a dance scholarship with the Bailey Mountain Cloggers of Mars Hill College, where he won several national titles with the dance team; and
WHEREAS, after receiving a bachelor’s degree from Mars Hill College, Shamus Riley returned to Suffolk and Lakeland High School, where he teaches children with autism, and to the PCC, where he serves as the team’s Instructing Director; and
WHEREAS, a very dedicated and talented clogger, Shamus Riley has been named by ACHF to the Team of the Decade in 2000, competed on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, performed in the Folkmoot International Dance Competition, represented the United States at the Appalachian and Music Bluegrass Festival in Northern Ireland, and was a member of ACHF’s Team of the Millennium; and
WHEREAS, as the Grand Champion of the Melvin Sloan dance-off, where first place finishers from preliminary competitions throughout the year compete against one another, Shamus Riley earned an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry on April 5, 2014; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That James J. Riley, Jr., hereby be commended for being awarded Grand Champion of the Melvin Sloan dance-off at America’s Clogging Hall of Fame World Championships; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to James J. Riley, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect and admiration for his continued passion and commitment to the art of clogging.