HR1768: HR1768 Gardner, George "Coach"; commend

This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives honoring George "Coach" Gardner. It recounts his founding of the Georgia Football Officials Association in 1926, his football career and team captaincy at Georgia Tech, his decades as an SEC official and later SEC Supervisor of Officials, and his induction into national halls of fame for football and high school sports officiating. The resolution does not change any Georgia law, create programs, or spend state money. It simply resolves that the House recognizes Gardner for his lifetime of work in football and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to him.

• Formally recognizes and commends George "Coach" Gardner for his contributions to football officiating in Georgia.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Gardner.
• Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than a bill amending the Georgia Code.

The resolution directly names and honors George "Coach" Gardner. It also references the Georgia Football Officials Association and the Georgia High School Association, though it does not impose any obligations on them.

The resolution carries symbolic weight rather than legal effect. It gives official recognition from the Georgia General Assembly to Gardner's role in shaping football officiating, but it does not alter any rights, funding, or rules affecting schools, athletes, or officials.

• Recites Gardner's founding of the Georgia Football Officials Association in 1926 and its status as one of the state's oldest and largest high school officiating associations.
• Recounts his football career at Georgia Tech, his SEC officiating career from 1932 to 1948, and his service as SEC Supervisor of Officials from 1948 to 1970.
• Notes his 1986 induction into the National Football Hall of Fame and his 1992 induction into the National Federation of High Schools Sports Hall of Fame.
• Resolves that the House commends Gardner and directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to him.

1. 2026-03-18House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2026-03-18House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-18House Hopper (House)

• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)Primary sponsor
• Eddie Lumsden (R, HD-012)
• Victor Anderson (R, HD-010)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)

• commendation resolution
• high school football officiating
• Georgia Tech
• Georgia General Assembly honors