| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 129 0195 |
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| 2 | 2 | | Senate Resolution 351 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 44th, Orrock of the 36th, |
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| 4 | 4 | | Esteves of the 35th and others |
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| 5 | 5 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | Recognizing and commending Dr. Charles F. McClelland on his outstanding service; and for |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1 |
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| 8 | 8 | | other purposes.2 |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Charles F. McClelland has served as the Commissioner of the Southwestern3 |
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| 10 | 10 | | Athletic Conference (SWAC) since 2018, providing visionary leadership to a conference that4 |
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| 11 | 11 | | now includes 12 member institutions across six states competing at the NCAA Division I5 |
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| 12 | 12 | | level; and6 |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, under his leadership, the SWAC has grown through the additions of Florida7 |
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| 14 | 14 | | A&M and Bethune-Cookman as well as through the purchase of a permanent office space8 |
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| 15 | 15 | | to serve as its headquarters; and9 |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, prior to his tenure with the SWAC, he served as Vice President of10 |
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| 17 | 17 | | Intercollegiate Athletics at Texas Southern University, where he oversaw significant11 |
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| 18 | 18 | | improvements in athletic facilities, academic progress rates, and student-athlete graduation12 |
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| 19 | 19 | | rates as well as secured television broadcasting deals and a multi-million-dollar apparel13 |
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| 20 | 20 | | partnership with Under Armour; and14 |
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| 21 | 21 | | S. R. 351 |
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| 22 | 22 | | - 1 - 25 LC 129 0195 |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, he previously served as Athletics Director at Prairie View A&M University, |
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| 24 | 24 | | 15 |
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| 25 | 25 | | where he led the program to 18 championships and played a pivotal role in revitalizing the16 |
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| 26 | 26 | | football program, culminating in the team's first winning season in over 30 years; and17 |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Dr. McClelland's contributions to collegiate athletics have earned him national18 |
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| 28 | 28 | | recognition, including the AstroTurf Athletics Director of the Year Award in 2007—the first19 |
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| 29 | 29 | | SWAC Athletic Director to receive this prestigious honor; and20 |
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| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, his service extends beyond athletics through his involvement with the Prairie21 |
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| 31 | 31 | | View A&M University National Alumni Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., the22 |
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| 32 | 32 | | Rotary Club of Birmingham, and numerous NCAA leadership committees; and23 |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this24 |
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| 34 | 34 | | remarkable and distinguished individual be appropriately recognized.25 |
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| 35 | 35 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body26 |
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| 36 | 36 | | recognize and commend Dr. Charles F. McClelland for his exceptional leadership and his27 |
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| 37 | 37 | | many exemplary contributions to collegiate athletics as well as extend the most sincere best28 |
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| 38 | 38 | | wishes for continued success.29 |
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| 39 | 39 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed30 |
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| 40 | 40 | | to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Dr. Charles F.31 |
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| 41 | 41 | | McClelland.32 |
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| 42 | 42 | | S. R. 351 |
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| 43 | 43 | | - 2 - |
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