HJR149INTRODUCED
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HJR149
I3VRVW6-1
By Representatives Bracy, Jones, Drummond, Clarke
RFD: Rules
First Read: 18-Mar-25
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5 I3VRVW6-1 03/13/2025 LMG (L)lmg 2025-1256
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First Read: 18-Mar-25
HJR___ CONGRATULATING BEN HARRIS FOR BEING INDUCTED INTO THE
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HALL OF FAME.
WHEREAS, highest commendations and congratulations
are hereby presented to Coach Ben Harris for his induction
into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame as a
Member of the Class of 2025; and
WHEREAS, the induction ceremony will take place on
June 14, 2025, in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of
professional football and home to the Pro Football Hall of
Fame; Coach Harris's inclusion in this elite group, which
includes legends like Warren Moon, Ray Lewis, and Michael
Vick, underscores his extraordinary legacy in the sport; and
WHEREAS, a product of Toulminville High School in
Mobile, Alabama, and a former quarterback at Alabama State
University, Coach Harris's journey from player to coach
exemplifies the profound impact one individual can have on
the game; his most significant coaching achievement came
during his tenure at Blount High School in Prichard,
Alabama, where he orchestrated a stunning turnaround of a
program that had struggled for years; and
WHEREAS, Coach Harris's arrival at Blount in 1988
marked the beginning of a new era; in his first season, the
Leopards posted a 6-6 record, including the school's
first-ever playoff win; over the next decade, Ben Harris's
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first-ever playoff win; over the next decade, Ben Harris's
teams would become a powerhouse in Alabama high school
football, winning four state championships (1990, 1992,
1996, and 1997) and earning eight regional titles; and
WHEREAS, under his leadership, Blount compiled a
remarkable 100-30 record, with a playoff mark of 30-5; his
success helped solidify Blount High School as one of the
premier programs in the state, with runner-up finishes in
1991 and 1995 rounding out his legacy; and
WHEREAS, Ben Harris's coaching career went beyond
just wins and losses; it was about building character and
empowering young athletes; his influence extended to both
his players and the broader community; and
WHEREAS, recognized as a leader on and off the field,
he was named Mobile County Citizen of the Year in 1996, and
was selected Blount High School Teacher of the Year in 1992;
he also received multiple accolades for his coaching
prowess, including being named Coach of the Year by the
Alabama Sports Writers Association in 1990 and 1997; his
coaching accomplishments were further celebrated when he was
named the NFL High School Coach of the Year in 1998; and
WHEREAS, following his back-to-back state titles at
Blount in 1996 and 1997, Harris transitioned to a coaching
role at his alma mater, Alabama State University, where he
served as an assistant coach for five years and briefly as
interim head coach; he later returned to high school
football at Daleville in 2000, before returning to Blount
for his final coaching stint from 2003-2008; and
WHEREAS, Coach Harris's remarkable career has earned
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WHEREAS, Coach Harris's remarkable career has earned
him induction into the Alabama High School Athletic
Association (AHSAA) Hall of Fame, the Alabama State
Athletics Hall of Fame, the Baldwin County Hall of Fame, as
well as the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, cementing his place
in Alabama's football history; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That Coach Ben Harris, a
transformative figure in Alabama high school football, is
heartily commended and congratulated for earning a place in
the 2025 National High School Football Hall of Fame, and
this resolution is offered to him in highest regard and with
warm wishes for continued success in all his endeavors.
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