Bill Text: GA HR1905 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Rivers, Joe Nathan; commend
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-03-31 - House Read and Adopted [HR1905 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-HR1905-Introduced.html
10 LC 33
3740
House
Resolution 1905
By:
Representatives Carter of the
175th,
Shaw of the
176th,
and Black of the
174th
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and commending Joe Nathan Rivers for his outstanding leadership, guidance, and
support and for the many contributions that he has made to our country and to
the Valdosta community; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Joe Nathan Rivers was born in Vidalia, Georgia; relocated in 1937 to Valdosta,
where he has resided ever since; and later married his lovely wife, Geneva, on
March 31, 1951; and
WHEREAS,
Joe Nathan is a member of New Life Ministries of Valdosta and is a man of deep
faith, a loving husband, and a wonderful father to his children and many other
children in the Valdosta community; and
WHEREAS,
about 48 years ago, Joe Nathan did not think he was doing anything special when
he let kids play baseball in his large front yard, but when the number rose to
100 boys, he decided to organize them into several different groups to better
teach them the fundamentals of baseball; and
WHEREAS,
Joe Nathan realized there was a need to secure community support to further the
kids' increasing interest in baseball so talked other coaches into helping and
then turned his attention to getting equipment, such as uniforms, gloves, and
balls; through his efforts and the efforts of those that helped him, those kids
formed the nucleus of the first black youth baseball league in Valdosta;
and
WHEREAS,
Joe Nathan encountered many people who would not help him unless his team had a
charter, and getting a charter was not an easy thing to do; in those days,
blacks still did not play baseball with whites; he finally received the charter
he had sought in 1959 when he contacted the Little League headquarters in
Williamsport, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS,
Coca Cola later provided Joe Nathan with uniforms, and generous Valdostans
helped get additional balls and bats for practice; Joe Nathan never lost
perspective and always did his best to see that the kids benefitted; and
WHEREAS,
Joe Nathan himself was a tough competitor in his own right when he was growing
up; as a ferocious hitter playing the position of linebacker for Dasher, he
earned the nick name "Dirty Joe Rivers," and his fearless playing earned him a
spot as an all-star player in the Southern Conference; and
WHEREAS,
dedication is what made Joe Nathan Rivers such a good motivator to his baseball
players; according to Joe Nathan, "The trick is to stay ahead of them. If the
kids did ten push-ups, I would do 20. That's how you earn their
respect."
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body join in recognizing and commending Joe Nathan Rivers for his
outstanding leadership, guidance, and support and for the many contributions
that he has made to our country and to the Valdosta community.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Joe Nathan
Rivers.
