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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 144
BY SENATOR LONG
COMMENDATIONS. Commends James "Jimmy" Jones for being named to the 2013
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend and congratulate James "Jimmy" Jones for being named as an inductee to the2
2013 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.3
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the citizens and Senate of Louisiana have4
learned of the prestigious honor bestowed upon basketball star James "Jimmy" Jones on his5
induction in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame; and6
WHEREAS, the inductees are chosen after extensive deliberations by an expert panel7
of Louisiana Sports Writers' Association members from across the state who annually8
consider more than one hundred twenty nominees for this honor; and9
WHEREAS, Jimmy Jones was born in January of 1945 in Tallulah, Louisiana, and10
attended McCall High School and Grambling State; and11
WHEREAS, the 6'4", 188 pound Tallulah native and guard/small forward averaged12
20 points and 8 rebounds in one hundred and four games and was the star of three straight13
Southwestern Athletic Conference championship teams at Grambling State from 196314
through 1967; and 15
WHEREAS, after spurning an offer from the National Basketball Association's16
(NBA's) then Baltimore Bullets, who made him the 13
th
overall pick in the second round of17
the 1967 NBA Draft, Jones opted to begin his professional career playing for the American18 SR NO. 144
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Basketball Association (ABA) for the New Orleans Buccaneers, later transferred to the1
Memphis Pros, and finally to the Utah Stars, he was by far one of the best players in the2
ABA, averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds during his seven years in that3
league; and4
WHEREAS, during his ABA career, he was regularly recognized for his incredible5
skill and talent, including being named to the 1968 ABA All-Rookie Team, six times to the6
ABA All Stars where he scored double figures in five of the games, three times to the First7
Team All-ABA, and finally to the ABA All-Time Team; and 8
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones is regarded as one of the best ABA players of all time and9
became only the second player to score two thousand plus points in a single season scoring10
two thousand fifty points in his 1968-1969 season; and11
WHEREAS, in 1974, Mr. Jones joined the NBA where he played three more seasons12
with the Washington Bullets before his retirement in 1977; and13
WHEREAS, his impressive combined ten season pro averages are 16.3 points (eleven14
thousand three hundred sixty-six total points), 4.6 rebounds (two thousand nine hundred15
thirty total rebounds) and 4.5 assists (three thousand sixty-nine total assists); and16
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones is a distinguished member of the Grambling Legends Hall17
of Fame; and18
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,19
and the overall vitality of American society depends, in great measure, upon the dedication20
of great men like James "Jimmy" Jones who strive to show others through hard work and21
dedication that all dreams are possible.22
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana23
does hereby commend and congratulate James "Jimmy" Jones on his impressive and24
successful basketball career and on being named as an inductee to the 2013 Louisiana Sports25
Hall of Fame.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Mr.27
James "Jimmy" Jones.28 SR NO. 144
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
Long SR No. 144
Commends and congratulates James "Jimmy" Jones for being named as an inductee in the
2013 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.