MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Representative Anthony House Resolution 96 (As Adopted by House) A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING TRACK AND FIELD ALL-AMERICAN JANET DAVIS ON HER OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC CAREER AT GENTRY HIGH SCHOOL AND FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY. WHEREAS, Janet Davis, a 1983 graduate of Gentry High School in Indianola, Mississippi, was a phenomenal track and field star whose exceptional record-setting performance and achievements as a student in Mississippi and later at Florida State University earned her recognition and acclaim on the international stage as an athletic champion; and WHEREAS, with 16 brothers and sisters to race with, a competitive young Janet Davis, seemingly born to run, acquired explosive speed and endurance at an early age, winning her first track and field medal as an eight-year-old student at Carver Elementary School and her first Gold Medal in Tokyo, Japan, at the age of 12 in 1977; and WHEREAS, before entering high school, Janet Davis, a member of the Indianola Track Club created by her physical education teacher, Mr. Lott, had made a name for herself at cross country and indoor and outdoor track events throughout the country, winning both the eight and nine-year-old Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Cross Country Championships in the mile race; and WHEREAS, while a member of the Indianola Track Club and Gentry High School State Championship Team, Janet Davis continued to excel, being named: the 100-Meter National Champion in the 15-16 age group in Los Angeles, California; the Triple Crown Winner of the Mississippi State Championship, winning the 100, 200 and 440-yard dash; and the youngest member of the 1981 National Sports Festival South Team in Syracuse, New York, finishing third in the 100-meter race behind two former Olympians, Evelyn Ashford and Jeannette Boldin, and third in the 200-meter race behind the famed Florence Joyner (FloJo) and Jeanette Boldin; and WHEREAS, Janet Davis's athletic prowess only increased as she matured, which is reflected by a few of the many awards she received as a high school runner, such as: Athlete of the Year, the most coveted award at Gentry High School, earned as a junior; the 1982 National High School Track All-American Award; and the 1983 Mississippi Clarion Ledger Athlete of the Year Award; and WHEREAS, in addition, Janet Davis was a valuable member of several prestigious teams during high school, including: Gentry High School State Track Championship Team; Gentry High School State Championship Team and the State Championship Team, anchoring the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 meter relay on both teams; Adidas All-American Team; American Textile All-American Team; TFA/USA All-American Team; TAC/USA Junior and Senior All-American Team; USA Junior National Team, anchoring the last leg in the 4x100 meter relay in Caracas, Venezuela; and USA Senior Team, the youngest member as an eleventh grader, in Tokyo, Japan; and WHEREAS, ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 100 and 200-meter races and No. 1 in the indoor 60-yard dash by Track and Field News magazine, Janet Davis was the Overall State Record Holder in the 100 and 220-yard dash and the National High School Record Holder in the indoor 220-yard dash in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and never losing a race at the State Championship from 1981 through 1983, she was the Triple Crown Winner in State Championship, winning the 100, 200 and 400-meter races, the Mississippi State Champion in the 100, 200 and 400-meter races, and the USA National Champion in the 100-meter dash in Kansas; and WHEREAS, in 1984, Janet Davis, the Second Place Prep Athlete of the Year, was the No. 1 recruited athlete in the entire country and received a full Track and Field Scholarship to attend Florida State University; and WHEREAS, as a member of the 1984 Florida State NCAA National Track and Field Championship Team, running the first leg of the collegiate record-setting 4x400 relay team, placing sixth in the 200 meters, and sixth in the 400 meters, Janet Davis further cemented her stature among the greatest of athletes, being named a Three-time All-American as a Freshman at FSU and a six-time FSU All-American; and WHEREAS, Janet Davis, an inductee into Florida State's Top 25 Club in the 100, 200 and 400 race with times of 11.5, 23.13 and 52.77 in each respective event, ran in the 1984 Olympic Trials in Los Angeles, California, and held the record of 7th fastest in the world for the 60 meters indoor time; and WHEREAS, in recognition of her lifelong success and the honor it brought to her alma mater, Gentry High School retired Janet Davis's track jersey and inducted her into the Gentry High School Hall of Fame in the 1980's; and WHEREAS, it is most appropriate, even after all these years, to recognize Janet Davis, a true champion in track and field who, having achieved the success and greatness reserved for only the very top percentage of athletes throughout the world, is still fondly remembered to this day for the immense pride and honor she brought to her hometown and the entire State of Mississippi: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate track and field All-American Janet Davis on her outstanding athletic career at Gentry High School and Florida State University and extend our heartfelt wishes for every success in all her current and future endeavors. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Janet Davis, Gentry High School and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Anthony
# House Resolution 96
## (As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING TRACK AND FIELD ALL-AMERICAN JANET DAVIS ON HER OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC CAREER AT GENTRY HIGH SCHOOL AND FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY.
WHEREAS, Janet Davis, a 1983 graduate of Gentry High School in Indianola, Mississippi, was a phenomenal track and field star whose exceptional record-setting performance and achievements as a student in Mississippi and later at Florida State University earned her recognition and acclaim on the international stage as an athletic champion; and
WHEREAS, with 16 brothers and sisters to race with, a competitive young Janet Davis, seemingly born to run, acquired explosive speed and endurance at an early age, winning her first track and field medal as an eight-year-old student at Carver Elementary School and her first Gold Medal in Tokyo, Japan, at the age of 12 in 1977; and
WHEREAS, before entering high school, Janet Davis, a member of the Indianola Track Club created by her physical education teacher, Mr. Lott, had made a name for herself at cross country and indoor and outdoor track events throughout the country, winning both the eight and nine-year-old Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Cross Country Championships in the mile race; and
WHEREAS, while a member of the Indianola Track Club and Gentry High School State Championship Team, Janet Davis continued
to excel, being named: the 100-Meter National Champion in the 15-16 age group in Los Angeles, California; the Triple Crown Winner of the Mississippi State Championship, winning the 100, 200 and 440-yard dash; and the youngest member of the 1981 National Sports Festival South Team in Syracuse, New York, finishing third in the 100-meter race behind two former Olympians, Evelyn Ashford and Jeannette Boldin, and third in the 200-meter race behind the famed Florence Joyner (FloJo) and Jeanette Boldin; and
WHEREAS, Janet Davis's athletic prowess only increased as she matured, which is reflected by a few of the many awards she received as a high school runner, such as: Athlete of the Year, the most coveted award at Gentry High School, earned as a junior; the 1982 National High School Track All-American Award; and the 1983 Mississippi Clarion Ledger Athlete of the Year Award; and
WHEREAS, in addition, Janet Davis was a valuable member of several prestigious teams during high school, including: Gentry High School State Track Championship Team; Gentry High School State Championship Team and the State Championship Team, anchoring the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 meter relay on both teams; Adidas All-American Team; American Textile All-American Team; TFA/USA All-American Team; TAC/USA Junior and Senior All-American Team; USA Junior National Team, anchoring the last leg in the 4x100 meter relay in Caracas, Venezuela; and USA Senior Team, the youngest member as an eleventh grader, in Tokyo, Japan; and
WHEREAS, ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 100 and 200-meter races and No. 1 in the indoor 60-yard dash by Track and Field News magazine, Janet Davis was the Overall State Record Holder in the 100 and 220-yard dash and the National High School Record Holder in the indoor 220-yard dash in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and never losing a race at the State Championship from 1981 through 1983, she was the Triple Crown Winner in State Championship, winning the 100, 200 and 400-meter races, the Mississippi State Champion in the 100, 200 and 400-meter races, and the USA National Champion in the 100-meter dash in Kansas; and
WHEREAS, in 1984, Janet Davis, the Second Place Prep Athlete of the Year, was the No. 1 recruited athlete in the entire country and received a full Track and Field Scholarship to attend Florida State University; and
WHEREAS, as a member of the 1984 Florida State NCAA National Track and Field Championship Team, running the first leg of the collegiate record-setting 4x400 relay team, placing sixth in the 200 meters, and sixth in the 400 meters, Janet Davis further cemented her stature among the greatest of athletes, being named a Three-time All-American as a Freshman at FSU and a six-time FSU All-American; and
WHEREAS, Janet Davis, an inductee into Florida State's Top 25 Club in the 100, 200 and 400 race with times of 11.5, 23.13 and 52.77 in each respective event, ran in the 1984 Olympic Trials in Los Angeles, California, and held the record of 7th fastest in the world for the 60 meters indoor time; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of her lifelong success and the honor it brought to her alma mater, Gentry High School retired Janet Davis's track jersey and inducted her into the Gentry High School Hall of Fame in the 1980's; and
WHEREAS, it is most appropriate, even after all these years, to recognize Janet Davis, a true champion in track and field who, having achieved the success and greatness reserved for only the very top percentage of athletes throughout the world, is still fondly remembered to this day for the immense pride and honor she brought to her hometown and the entire State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate track and field All-American Janet Davis on her outstanding athletic career at Gentry High School and Florida State University and extend our heartfelt wishes for every success in all her current and future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Janet Davis, Gentry High School and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.