25 LC 112 3308
Senate Resolution 358
By: Senators Lucas of the 26th, Brass of the 6th, Cowsert of the 46th, Gooch of the 51st and
Kennedy of the 18th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending Alvin J. Copeland; and for other purposes.
1
WHEREAS, Alvin J. Copeland has dedicated 47 years of service to the field of education2
and athletics, shaping the lives of countless students as a teacher, coach, and mentor; and3
WHEREAS, he began his distinguished career with the Monroe County Board of Education4
at Hubbard High School in Forsyth, Georgia, serving from 1964 to 1967 as a health and5
physical education teacher, assistant coach for football and basketball, and head coach for6
track and field; and7
WHEREAS, he joined Northeast High School in Macon, Georgia, in 1970, where he taught8
health and physical education until 2000, served as department chairman from 1973 to 2000,9
and worked as athletic director and head coach for cross country, girls basketball, and girls10
and boys track and field until his retirement in 2011; and11
WHEREAS, his teams achieved remarkable success, winning five Georgia State12
Championships in girls basketball in 1975, 1981, 1982, 1985, and 2002, as well as state13
runner-up titles in 1980 and 2001 and third-place finishes in 1974 and 1976; and14
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WHEREAS, he led his boys track and field teams to state championships in 1975 and 1977,
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a state runner-up title in 1974, and girls track and field teams to six state championships in16
1979, 1982, 1986, 2000, 2001, and 2002; and17
WHEREAS, his teams further secured numerous regional championships, with the girls18
basketball team earning 16 regional titles between 1972 and 2011, the boys track and field19
team securing eight regional titles between 1970 and 1977, and the girls track and field team20
winning 28 regional titles between 1979 and 2009; and21
WHEREAS, he was inducted into multiple prestigious halls of fame, including the Fort22
Valley State University Hall of Fame in 1981, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic23
Conference Hall of Fame in 2000, the Macon Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, the Georgia24
Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame and the Georgia High School Coaches Hall of25
Fame in 2012, the Fort Valley State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015, and the26
Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024; and27
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this distinguished individual be28
appropriately honored during this special time.29
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body30
recognize and commend Alvin J. Copeland for his extraordinary career in education and31
athletics, honor his lasting contributions to student-athletes across Georgia, and extend best32
wishes for future health and happiness.33
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed34
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Alvin J. Copeland.35
S. R. 358
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