A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE CITY OF rock hill FOR PRODUCING NUMEROUS national football league FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND TO CONGRATULATE THE COMMUNITY FOR BEING NAMED FOOTBALL CITY USA.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are delighted that Rock Hill has been dubbed Football City USA by USA Today and ABC's Good Morning America; and

Whereas, formerly known as a textile town, Rock Hill has been the home of Winthrop University since 1886, the site of several Revolutionary War battles, and home to the Catawba Nation, South Carolina's only federally recognized Indian tribe; and

Whereas, the growing Southern town in York County earned its title because it produces more NFL players per capita than any other city in the United States. The national average is one NFL player per 184,436 United States' residents, and Rock Hill has had forty-one players on NFL rosters from a city with a population of only 75,000; and

Whereas, Rock Hill has a rich history of producing talented champion players who have entered the collegiate and NFL ranks with successful careers from the city's three public high schools, each of which won at least one state football championship in the 2000s: Northwestern, Rock Hill, and South Pointe high schools; and

Whereas, football in Rock Hill is unique because of the importance placed on the sport by the community and the three high schools. The oldest high school in the city, Rock Hill High School set the stage for the many successful football teams produced here over the past decades beginning in the mid 1940s; and

Whereas, in 1971, Rock Hill opened its second public high school, Northwestern, which has had the most success of the three schools with an impressive seven state championships. South Pointe became the third high school in the Rock Hill area in 2005. Although it is only eighteen years old, the football team quickly attached itself to the city's football legacy winning seven state championships. While players can thrive in successful programs, Strait Herron, former South Point football coach, said in Rock Hill the most important trait is developing players with strong leadership skills; and

Whereas, coaches Jimmy "Moose" Wallace, Jim Ringer, Straight Herron, Kyle Richardson, Tommy Oates, and Walter Jenkins are all recognized in the York County Sports Hall of Fame. Robert Massey, former NY Giants and current Head Coach at Winston Salem State University, Jeff Burris, former Miami Dolphins and current coach at Louisiana, and Devonte Holloman, current coach with the University of South Carolina, also are recognized coaches from Rock Hill; and

Whereas, current NFL stars from Rock Hill include Stephon Gilmore, a cornerback with the Indianapolis Colts, Cordarrelle Patterson, a versatile multi-position player for the Atlanta Falcons, Mason Rudolph, a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Nick McCloud, a cornerback for the NY Giants, Jadaveon Clowney, a defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, and Derion Kendrick, a cornerback for the LA Rams. Clowney, Gilmore, McCloud, and Kendrick, along with DeVonte Holloman, Montay Crockett, and Anthony Johnson all played for South Pointe High School. Rudolph and Patterson, along with Jerry Howard, Caliph Brice, Justin Worley, Roderick Byers, Gerald Dixon Jr, Justin Rainey, Jonathan Joseph, Benjamin Watson, Derek Ross, Jeff Burris, and Rick Sanford all hailed from Northwestern High School. Rock Hill High School produced players such as Jaleel Scott, Johnathan Meeks, Phillip Adams, Tori Gurley, Johnathan Hefney, Ko Simpson, Asa Watson, Arkee Whitlock, Chris Hope, Tim Jones, Gerald Dixon Sr, Bernard McCullough, Skip Dunham, Ricky Brown, Billy Nies, Sammy Fewell, and Buck George. Spencer Lanning, Robert Massey, Chuck Ramsey, Bernard Parker (Emmett Scott), and Jonathan "Monk" Hardin all hailed from Rock Hill; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the outstanding recognition that football has brought to the Rock Hill community and to the Palmetto State, and the members look to hear of the city's continued football success in the years ahead. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the city of Rock Hill for producing numerous National Football League players and congratulate the community for being named Football City USA.

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