Bill Text: NC H670 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Honor Dean E. Smith
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-11 - Ch. Res 2015-10 [H670 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2015-H670-Enrolled.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2015
RATIFIED BILL
RESOLUTION 2015-10
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 670
A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE life and memory of DEAN EDWARDS SMITH, legendary men's basketball coach of the university of north carolina at chapel hill.
Whereas, Dean Edwards Smith was born on February 28, 1931 in Emporia, Kansas, to Alfred and Vesta Smith, both public school teachers; and
Whereas, Dean Smith graduated from Topeka High School in 1949 and attended the University of Kansas on an academic scholarship, during which time he was a student athlete playing varsity basketball and baseball and freshman football, and was a member of the Jayhawk basketball team that won the NCAA title in 1952 and finished second in 1953; and
Whereas, after graduating college in 1953, Dean Smith remained at the University of Kansas where he served as an assistant basketball coach to Phog Allen and Dick Harp; and
Whereas, in 1954, Dean Smith joined the U.S. Air Force, where he played and coached basketball in Europe and later served as an assistant basketball coach to Bob Spear, and was the head coach of the Air Force Academy's baseball and golf teams; and
Whereas, in 1958, Coach Smith became an assistant to Frank McGuire at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and, in 1961, at the age of 30, became the head coach when Coach McGuire resigned to become head coach of the NBA's Philadelphia Warriors; and
Whereas, in 1966, Coach Smith helped integrate UNC athletics by recruiting Charles Scott, the first African‑American scholarship player at the university and one of the first black athletes to sign at a major college in the South; and
Whereas, with a fierce winning spirit and talented players, Coach Smith guided the Tar Heels in ACC play to a record of 364‑136 and won 13 ACC Tournament titles and finished at least third in the ACC regular‑season standings for 33 successive seasons, including 17 first place titles, 11 second place finishes, and five third place finishes; and
Whereas, the Tar Heels under Coach Smith's skilled hand won at least 20 games in 27 straight seasons, including 30 of his last 31 games, a record matched by no other coach; and
Whereas, Coach Smith led his teams to 27 NCAA appearances of which 23 were consecutive; 13 straight Sweet 16 appearances from 1981 to 1993; 11 Final Four appearances; NCAA championships in 1982 and 1993; and a NIT championship in 1971; and
Whereas, as head coach, Coach Smith was instrumental in guiding the United States basketball team to a gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Games; and
Whereas, on March 15, 1997 Coach Smith became the "all‑time winningest coach" in the history of NCAA Division I basketball by passing Adolph Rupp's record of 876 wins; and
Whereas, Dean Smith retired from coaching on October 9, 1997 with a record of 879‑254 and the distinction of having won more games than any other Division I men's basketball college coach in history, a record that held until 2007; and
Whereas, at UNC, Coach Smith established a tradition of excellence during his 36 years as head coach, building an outstanding men's basketball program made up of young men who succeeded not only on the basketball court but also in the classroom where they achieved a graduation rate better than 95%; and
Whereas, Coach Smith created or perfected the run-and-jump and scramble defenses, the team huddle before a free throw, the clenched fist to signal a needed rest from the game, the acknowledgment of an assist by pointing to the passer, and the "Four Corners" offense that proved so effective the shot clock was instituted by the NCAA in 1985; and
Whereas, many of Coach Smith's players went on to become professional basketball players, basketball coaches, entrepreneurs, professionals, and other leaders, many of whom still contribute to their communities throughout the world; and
Whereas, Coach Smith received numerous awards and honors, as he was named the ACC Coach of the Year eight times, National Coach of the Year four times, and the Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, and received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY Awards and the Naismith Good Sportsmanship Award; and
Whereas, Coach Smith was the first recipient of the Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement given by the University of North Carolina Committee on Teaching Awards for "a broader range of teaching beyond the classroom" and was the recipient of the Order of the Longleaf Pine in 1988 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013, the highest civilian award granted by the United States government; and
Whereas, Coach Smith was recognized by SportsCentury, an award‑winning program on ESPN, as one of the top seven coaches of the 20th century; and
Whereas, Coach Smith was honored with The University Award, the highest distinction bestowed by UNC, in 1998 in recognition of his "illustrious service to higher education"; and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from UNC in 2007, which recognizes "outstanding service to humanity in the world arena, in our nation, in the American South, or our State of North Carolina; people who have made outstanding contributions to knowledge in the world of scholarship; people whose talent and creativity in the world of the arts has enriched our lives; and people whose devotion to and support of our University merits our highest recognition"; and
Whereas, Coach Smith was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1981, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983, National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006, and FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007; and
Whereas, Coach Smith was a very humble man who did not seek fame or fortune or recognition for any of the things he did for others; and
Whereas, Coach Smith was a man of great character who believed in equality for every citizen that was demonstrated over and over in his life's work, including when he, in the late 1960s, integrated a segregated Chapel Hill restaurant when he walked in with his pastor and black theology student; and
Whereas, Coach Smith was revered and loved by his players, coaching staff, and members of the UNC basketball family and was respected and admired by his peers, colleagues, and UNC fans; and
Whereas, Coach Smith was an active member of Binkley Baptist Church in Chapel Hill; and
Whereas, Dean Smith died on February 7, 2015 at the age of 83 leaving his wife, Linnea; children, Sharon, Sandy, Scott, Kristen, and Kelly; seven grandchildren; and one great‑grandchild to mourn his loss; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1. The General Assembly honors the memory of Dean Edwards Smith, former head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and expresses the appreciation of this State for his many contributions to the game of basketball, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and thereby the entire State of North Carolina as well as public education and social justice.
SECTION 2. The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Dean Edwards Smith for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3. The Secretary of State shall send certified copies of this resolution to the family of Dean Edwards Smith.
SECTION 4. This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 11th day of June, 2015.
s/ Daniel J. Forest
President of the Senate
s/ Tim Moore
Speaker of the House of Representatives
