ENROLLED SENATE
RESOLUTION NO. 2	By:	Corn, Adelson, Aldridge, Anderson, Ballenger, Barrington, Bass, Bingman, Branan, Brogdon, Brown, Burrage, Coates, Coffee, Crain, Crutchfield, Easley, Eason McIntyre, Ellis, Ford, Garrison, Gumm, Halligan, Ivester, Johnson (Constance), Johnson (Mike), Jolley, Justice, Lamb, Laster, Leftwich, Lerblance, Marlatt, Mazzei, Myers, Newberry, Nichols, Paddack, Reynolds, Rice, Russell, Schulz, Sparks, Stanislawski, Sweeden, Sykes, Wilson and Wyrick 

A Resolution congratulating Henry Burris Junior for his football accomplishments; commending his positive attitude; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, Henry Armand Burris Junior was born June 4, 1975, in Spiro, Oklahoma. Henry Burris attended Spiro High School where he won four varsity letters each in football, track, basketball, and baseball.  He was selected Oklahoma All-State quarterback in 1991.  That same year he played on the Spiro 3A state championship baseball team.  He graduated from Spiro High School in 1992; and

WHEREAS, Henry Burris Junior played four years at Temple University in Philadelphia, after turning down offers from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Texas, and Texas Tech.  As a Temple Owl he set 20 school career passing records including 7,459 passing yards, 558 completions, and 49 touchdown passes; and

WHEREAS, Henry Burris Junior played for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL) as well as for the NFL Berlin Thunder in Germany; and

WHEREAS, Henry Burris Junior has played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for ten years, the last four of them as starting quarterback of the Calgary Stampeders.  As quarterback of the Calgary Stampeders he has passed for almost 28,000 yards and 177 touchdowns in the Canadian Football League.  In the 2008 season he passed for 5,093 yards and threw 39 touchdown passes; and

WHEREAS, Henry Burris Junior led the Calgary Stampeders to win the Western Conference title this year and was named Western Conference Most Valuable Player (MVP); and

WHEREAS, Henry Burris Junior then quarterbacked the Calgary Stampeders to win the Canadian Football League Championship in the 96th Grey Cup.  He was named the Grey Cup’s most valuable player (MVP) after completing 28 of his 37 passes for 328 yards, including one touchdown pass, and rushing for 79 yards; and

WHEREAS, Henry Burris Junior, a self described “country boy” known to his teammates as “Smilin’ Hank” or just “Happy” or “B”, is known for his sunny disposition and positive attitude that has enabled him to overcome obstacles that would have daunted a less optimistic individual.  He created the Henry Burris’ All-Star Weekend to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters.  Smilin’ Hank is considering a career in broadcasting after his athletic career is completed.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate congratulates Henry Burris Junior for leading his CFL team to the Western Conference Title and Grey Cup Championship and for being designated the Most Valuable Player of both the Western Conference title game and the 96th Grey Cup game.

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate commends Henry Burris Junior for his positive attitude, dedication, perseverance, and determination to win.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to Henry Armand Burris Junior; his father, Henry Burris Senior, a social worker and Vietnam veteran; his mother, Caresse Burris; his wife, Nicole Burris, whom he met at Temple University; and his son, Armond Jaiman Burris.

Adopted by the Senate the 16th day of March, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate