HLS 14RS-4907 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 185
BY REPRESENTATIVE COX
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Richard "Moon" Ducote upon his induction into the
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Richard "Moon" Ducote, football legend, upon the occasion of his induction2
into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.3
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1958 and was4
intended, in the words of Otis Harris, sports editor of the Shreveport Journal, to be "the5
Louisiana Hall of Fame – a hall of fame for the state's greatest athletes, men or women,6
amateur or professional, living or dead"; and7
WHEREAS, though the Hall of Fame began over fifty years ago, in 2013 the Hall8
of Fame celebrated the grand opening of its permanent and appropriate home for the9
recognition of Louisiana's greatest sports heroes at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and10
Northwest Louisiana History Museum in the National Historic District of Natchitoches; and11
WHEREAS, among the remarkable class of honorees to be inducted into the12
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 21, 2014, is legendary football player,13
coach, and official, Richard "Moon" Ducote; and14
WHEREAS, Richard "Moon" Ducote, a native of Cottonport, Louisiana, was born15
August 28, 1897, and attended Auburn University from 1915 through 1917 where he played16
on the football team as a fullback, halfback, and end, and was twice named to the All-17
Southern Conference team; and18
WHEREAS, Ducote was also known for his ability as a kicker, helping to lead his19
Auburn team to victory by making game-winning field goals of forty-eight and fifty-one20
yards to beat Georgia and Vanderbilt; and21 HLS 14RS-4907 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 185
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WHEREAS, in 1918, Ducote played for the Great Lakes Cleveland Naval Reserves,1
a military team composed of former college stars from around the country, and in a game2
against the University of Pittsburg, coached by legendary Pop Warner, Ducote scored all of3
the ten points needed to beat Pitt, handing them their only defeat in three seasons; and4
WHEREAS, a Cleveland sports writer who covered the game stated that Ducote5
"simply battered the life out of the Pitt defense and . . . must be rated as one of the greatest6
backs of all time"; and 7
WHEREAS, from legendary player to legendary coach, in 1918, Ducote began his8
coaching career serving as either an assistant or head coach for a variety of sports, including9
football, baseball, and basketball, at Louisiana State University, Loyola University of New10
Orleans, and Spring Hill College; and11
WHEREAS, from 1929 through 1934, Ducote worked as a football official in the12
Southern Conference and Southeastern Conference, as a linesman, umpire, and referee; and13
WHEREAS, at the end of the 1934-1935 season, Ducote was a member of the14
officiating crew for the 1935 Rose Bowl game on New Years's Day of 1935 which pitted15
Alabama against Stanford; and 16
WHEREAS, in March of 1935, Loyola University of New Orleans rehired Ducote17
as a football and basketball coach, and in 1936, Ducote served as Loyola's athletic director,18
a role he held from August 1936 until his death in 1937; and19
WHEREAS, the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana wishes to20
recognize the legendary Richard "Moon" Ducote for his extraordinary athletic and coaching21
career and for his well-deserved induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, for he is22
truly a Louisiana football icon.23
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the24
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Richard "Moon" Ducote upon the occasion25
of his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted27
to family of Richard "Moon" Ducote.28 HLS 14RS-4907 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 185
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Cox HR No. 185
Commends Richard "Moon" Ducote, legendary football player and coach, upon the occasion
of his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.