HR1768: HR1768 Gardner, George "Coach"; commend

26 LC 129 1403 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.1 WHEREAS, George "Coach" Gardner founded the Georgia Football Officials Association2 (GFOA) in 1926 in Atlanta, Georgia; and3 WHEREAS, GFOA is the oldest and one of the largest high school football official4 associations in the state of Georgia; and 5 WHEREAS, GFOA is an approved member of the Georgia High School Association; and6 WHEREAS, Coach Gardner graduated from Georgia Tech with a degre e in General7 Engineering, and played football at the school; and 8 WHEREAS, he was elected team captain in 1924, and his name is included in the Georgia9 Tech Ring of Honor; and10 WHEREAS, Coach Gardner was an active football official in the SEC from 1932 until 1948,11 where he officiated the Sugar Bowl three times and the Rose Bowl once; and 12 H. R. 1768 - 1 - 26 LC 129 1403 WHEREAS, he served as the SEC Supervisor of Officials from 1948 until 1970; and 13 WHEREAS, in 1986, Coach Gardner became the fourth football official to be inducted in the14 National Football Hall of Fame; and15 WHEREAS, in 1992, Coach Gardner became the first official from any sport to be inducted16 into the National Federation of High Schools Sports Hall of Fame; and17 WHEREAS, Coach Gardner developed the first football officials' mechanics manual in 1933,18 becoming known as the "Father of Football Officiating"; and 19 WHEREAS, many of these mechanics manuals are still in use by NF L, NCAA and high20 school football officials; and 21 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper the outstanding achievements and remarkable22 contributions Coach Gardner has made to the sport of football be appropriately recognized.23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that24 the members of this body recognize George "Coach" Gardner for a lifetime of dedication to25 football and commend him for serving as an inspiration to athletes throughout the State of26 Georgia.27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized28 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution ava ilable for distribution to29 George "Coach" Gardner.30 H. R. 1768 - 2 -