Bill Text: MS HR35 | 2011 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Lawrence Dwight Pillers; commend athletic accomplishments of and for being a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-02-23 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR35 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2011-HR35-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Holloway, Clarke, Johnson, Wooten, Calhoun, Evans (91st), Hines, Jones (82nd), Middleton, Thomas, Weathersby
House Resolution 35
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE ATHLETIC CAREER AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MISSISSIPPI'S NATIVE SON AND ATHLETE EXTRAORDINAIRE, LAWRENCE DWIGHT PILLERS.
WHEREAS, on November 4, 1952, in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, a great young man was born in the life manifestation of Lawrence Dwight Pillers, who would become an athletic giant in the professional football arena; and
WHEREAS, reared by his mother, the late Mary Diane Pillers, working on a small farm with nine siblings, Lawrence attended the Parrish Public School System, and as was the customary practice with many rural families in the Mississippi Delta, was taken out of school by his single mother during cotton-picking season, causing him to be retained for two years due to numerous absences from school; and
WHEREAS, after the conclusion of cotton season, Lawrence hauled pulpwood to help subsidize the family's income, and escaped the arduous task of assisting his mother in the cotton fields of Mississippi when opportunity presented itself for him to spend time enjoying sports with his siblings; and
WHEREAS, after segregation, Lawrence attended Hazlehurst High School where his enjoyment of sports soon turned into an innate passion, translating into his selection in 1970 and 1971 as All-American in basketball, football and track in the Little Dixie Division Conference, and he had the tremendous opportunity to participate in the Junior Olympics; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from high school in 1972, Lawrence received a full scholarship in football to Alcorn A & M College under the coaching leadership of Marino Casem, who had high expectations of Lawrence, starting him as a freshman, a decision that once again proved positive, as Lawrence was selected as All-American and All-SWAC for four years of his collegiate career; and
WHEREAS, during the 1973 football season, Lawrence, who also became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, shared in the stardom and acclaim of the Alcorn Braves Football Team that was crowned the Black National Champs; and
WHEREAS, determined to make a change for his mother and siblings, Lawrence often reflected on the hometown parade given in acknowledgment of Roy Hilton for winning the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Colts in 1969, and was inspired to receive a Super Bowl ring of his own; and
WHEREAS, in 1976, Lawrence's ascent to claim his Super Bowl ring began when he was drafted to the NFL in the eleventh round as an outside linebacker by the New York Jets, but due to his weight he had to assume another position as defensive lineman, initially starting at left defensive end as a rookie, moving two nine-year defensive linemen from their positions; and
WHEREAS, in 1978, holding firm to his desire to lift his family out of the impoverished conditions in which he grew up, Lawrence moved his mother and siblings to Lackawanna, New York, where he played four years with the New York Jets before being traded in August 1980 to the San Francisco 49ers where he continued to be a first string starter at defensive end; and
WHEREAS, while playing with the 49ers, Lawrence played alongside notables, Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott and Dwight Clark, and in the 1980 playoffs, Lawrence is credited with making it possible for the 49ers to go to Super Bowl XVI where they became world champions, after he hit Danny White, the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, forcing a fumble; and
WHEREAS, well on his way to establishing himself as a household name, the Guinness Book of World's Record listed Lawrence Pillers with the world's largest Super Bowl ring, size 22, in 1981; he served as back-up starter in the 1983 Pro Bowl; the 49ers had another successful winning season of 18-1 and went to Super Bowl XIX in 1984, allowing Lawrence's aspiration of receiving a Super Bowl ring to pay off twice; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence ended his professional career after one season with the Atlanta Falcons, to whom he was traded in 1985, and moved back to Mississippi where he ventured out as an entrepreneur and subsequently as a professional truck driver in 1989; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence was seen on television throughout Mississippi and was known for his famous saying "Anything he wants" after being asked what does a guy with two Super Bowl rings do, and later became employed with Mississippi State Hospital for ten years in the psychology department before moving in 2003, to Havana, Florida, where he became the Director of Adult Day Training Program at Easter Seals of North Florida in Tallahassee, supervising 20 staff members which oversaw 60 clients with developmental disabilities; and
WHEREAS, finding this time to be most rewarding and fulfilling and an opportunity to give back, Lawrence became a solo provider and opened his own company assisting clients with developmental disabilities, a service he still provides to date; and
WHEREAS, in the true spirit of giving back, Lawrence has participated with the Jerry Lewis March of Dimes Telethon for many years; serves as a motivational speaker for many schools, churches and boys and girls clubs, and often awing the crowd when he removes his rings to let them take pictures and try them on, as they continue to be amazed at the sizes; and
WHEREAS, not selfish to harbor the success of small-town hero to himself, Lawrence gleefully shares the stage with fellow hometowners and Super Bowl champions alike, Roy Hilton of the 1960 World Champion Baltimore Colts and Lewis Tillman of the 1991 World Champion New York Giants, who each bring great pride and esteem to their native home of Hazlehurst; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence and all of the players of the five-time Super Bowl Championship 49ers were honored in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2005, again he was honored with the rest of the Goal Uric Stance of Super Bowl XIV in San Francisco in 2007 and was inducted into the Alcorn State University Hall of Fame in 2008; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence, who now resides in Quincy, Florida, has enjoyed the constant support and affection of his wife, Chante C. Pillers; their four children, Lawrence, Jr., Annecla, Almecla and Christopher; Lawrence's older children, Asaki Dabney of New Orleans, Louisiana, LaCuria, LaVechelle, LaMarlon Pillers, Lawrence Hopkins and Michelle Brown all of Jackson, Mississippi; and grandchildren, who affectionately refer to him as Big Daddy; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize the accomplishments of a great American and an even greater Mississippian, such as Lawrence Pillers, whose career success highlights the potential within every citizen of this state, despite their background:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the athletic career and accomplishments of Mississippi's native son and athlete extraordinaire, Lawrence Dwight Pillers, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Lawrence Pillers and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
