ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 110
BY REPRESENTATIVES KLECKLEY, DANAHAY, FRANKLIN, GEYMANN, GUINN,
AND HENSGENS AND SENATORS J OHNS AND MORRISH
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To designate Tuesday, May 5, 2015, as Alvin Dark Day at the state capitol and to commend
Alvin Dark posthumously upon his extraordinary life and numerous
accomplishments.
WHEREAS, it is appropriate for Alvin Dark to be commended and honored for his
extraordinary accomplishments and achievements throughout his well-lived life; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dark was a native of Lake Charles, Louisiana; he attended Central
School and Lake Charles High School, where he played football, basketball, track, and
American Legion baseball; and
WHEREAS, his excellence in sports was widely recognized; he was chosen for the
All-Southern and All-State football teams and the All-State basketball team; during his
senior year at Lake Charles High School, he played in the state football championship as the
tailback for the Wildcats; and
WHEREAS, following his high school graduation, Mr. Dark furthered his education
and talent for sports at Louisiana State University where he lettered in football, basketball,
track, and baseball; and
WHEREAS, during the 1942-1943 football season, LSU won every game in which
Mr. Dark started as quarterback, and he was voted All-Sophomore in the Southeastern
conference; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dark was considered a triple threat in football as a runner, passer,
and punter; and
WHEREAS, he also played on the Southeastern Conference Championship Baseball
team at LSU and was chosen for the All-Conference Baseball team for the Southeastern
conference; and
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WHEREAS, in the fall of 1943, Alvin Dark transferred to Southwestern Louisiana
Industrial Institute, now known as University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and while playing
football there, he was voted All-American in 1944; he also placed first in high jump, second
in broad jump, and second in the one hundred yard dash at the Southern AAU track meet;
and
WHEREAS, he joined the United States Marine Corps during World War II and
entered the Officer Training Program; after attending basic training at Paris Island and after
his dutiful service in Pearl Harbor, he played on the All-Service Football team in Hawaii in
1945; and
WHEREAS, after proudly serving his country in World War II, agents from three
different professional sports approached Mr. Dark to sign with their teams: the Philadelphia
Eagles football team, the Fort Wayne Pistons basketball team, and the Boston Braves
baseball team; Mr. Dark decided to continue his love for baseball and signed with the Boston
Braves; and
WHEREAS, his baseball career spanned for four decades as a player and manager;
he played fourteen years with teams such as the Boston Braves, New York Giants, St. Louis
Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Braves, and Philadelphia Phillies; and
WHEREAS, as an outstanding baseball player, Alvin Dark was named Rookie of the
Year in 1947 in the minor leagues and again in 1948 in the major leagues; he played in three
World Series, had a lifetime batting average of .289, and was named World Champion in
1954 as the New York Giants shortstop and captain; he was also voted to All-Star teams in
1951, 1952, and 1954; and
WHEREAS, in 1960, Mr. Dark began his career as a manager with the San Francisco
Giants, where he led the team to a National League Pennant and to the World Series in 1962;
he also managed the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City A's, and the Oakland
A's; and
WHEREAS, as manager for the Oakland A's, his team won the World Series in 1974,
and Mr. Dark is one of only a few managers to have managed a National League team and
American League team in the World Series; he is also the only manager to have managed
the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, both San Francisco Bay area teams, to a
pennant; and
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WHEREAS, not only was Alvin Dark a player and manager, but he was also
involved in the front offices of three clubs; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dark had a passion for golf; he was an avid golfer and a five-time
winner of the baseball players golf tournament; in 1997 and 1998, he won the South Carolina
Senior Gulf Tournament; he is a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Hall
of Fame, and the LSU Hall of Fame, and was also the first recipient of the Lou Gehrig
Memorial Award in 1955; and
WHEREAS, on November 12, 2014, Alvin Dark passed away in his home in Easley,
South Carolina, at the age of ninety-two; he was passionate about testifying to the loving
grace and forgiveness of his Savior, Jesus Christ; and
WHEREAS, Alvin Dark loved his family and was a proud father of his children; he
always considered the state of Louisiana as his home; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature wishes to recognize the extraordinary life and
accomplishments of Alvin Dark, a man whose legacy shall forever endure in the minds and
hearts of all who knew and loved him.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
designate Tuesday, May 5, 2015, as Alvin Dark Day at the state capitol; does hereby
commend Alvin Dark posthumously upon his life and numerous accomplishments; and does
hereby extend sincere appreciation for the pride and honor that this truly remarkable man
has brought to his family, friends, community, state, and nation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Alvin Dark.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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