Georgia General Assembly · Full text

HR 1768: Gardner, George "Coach"; commend

Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action March 18, 2026 · Passed

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House Resolution 1768

By: Representatives Silcox of the 53rd, Lumsden of the 12th, Anderson of the 10th, and Hong of the 103rd

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending George "Coach" Gardner; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, George "Coach" Gardner founded the Georgia Football Officials Association

(GFOA) in 1926 in Atlanta, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, GFOA is the oldest and one of the largest high school football official associations in the state of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, GFOA is an approved member of the Georgia High School Association; and

WHEREAS, Coach Gardner graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in General Engineering, and played football at the school; and

WHEREAS, he was elected team captain in 1924, and his name is included in the Georgia Tech Ring of Honor; and

WHEREAS, Coach Gardner was an active football official in the SEC from 1932 until 1948, where he officiated the Sugar Bowl three times and the Rose Bowl once; and

WHEREAS, he served as the SEC Supervisor of Officials from 1948 until 1970; and

WHEREAS, in 1986, Coach Gardner became the fourth football official to be inducted in the National Football Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, in 1992, Coach Gardner became the first official from any sport to be inducted into the National Federation of High Schools Sports Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Coach Gardner developed the first football officials' mechanics manual in 1933, becoming known as the "Father of Football Officiating"; and

WHEREAS, many of these mechanics manuals are still in use by NFL, NCAA and high school football officials; and

WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper the outstanding achievements and remarkable contributions Coach Gardner has made to the sport of football be appropriately recognized.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize George "Coach" Gardner for a lifetime of dedication to football and commend him for serving as an inspiration to athletes throughout the State of Georgia.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to George "Coach" Gardner.