81R5264 JH-D
By: Eiland H.R. No. 220
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, March 31, 2009, marks the 131st anniversary of the
birth of Jack Johnson, a native of Galveston and the first African
American to win the world heavyweight boxing championship; and
WHEREAS, After gaining experience as a sparring partner,
Mr. Johnson began fighting in private clubs in and around
Galveston, and in 1897 he became a professional prizefighter; in
1903, he won the Negro heavyweight championship, and five years
later, in a victorious match in Australia, he claimed the world
heavyweight title; and
WHEREAS, Outraged by Mr. Johnson's triumph, numerous
commentators voiced the racial prejudice common in the early 1900s
and called for his defeat by a white boxer; eventually, a bout was
arranged with Jim Jeffries, a former heavyweight champion; on July
4, 1910, Mr. Johnson knocked out his foe in the 15th round to retain
his title; his reign as heavyweight champ extended for five years,
but his life underwent a major change in 1913, when he was convicted
on a contrived charge; to avoid a yearlong prison sentence, he fled
the country and settled in Europe; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was in Spain when the United States
entered World War I, and he became active in U.S. military
intelligence; his work helped to prevent German submarine crews
from landing on the Spanish coast; and
WHEREAS, After returning to the United States in 1920,
Mr. Johnson served his prison sentence and also fought in
exhibition matches, refereed fights, and worked with other boxers
as a manager and sometimes as a trainer; during World War II, he
again stepped forward to serve his country by encouraging citizens
to buy war bonds; in 1954, eight years after he died in an
automobile accident, he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame;
and
WHEREAS, In 1967, The Great White Hope, a play based loosely
on Mr. Johnson's life, premiered in Washington, D.C.; the following
year, the play moved to Broadway, and James Earl Jones and Jane
Alexander won Tony Awards for their performances in the leading
roles; the drama was made into a film in 1970; and
WHEREAS, An enormously gifted athlete, Mr. Johnson was
famous for his flawless boxing and near-perfect defense; he fought
in 113 matches and lost only 6; unbowed in the face of racism, he
exhibited great personal courage and, in times of national crisis,
signal patriotism; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2009, as Jack Johnson Day at
the State Capitol in honor of this distinguished Texan and
exceptional athlete.