Bill Text: NY J01343 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring Billie Mays Jr. upon the occasion of being inducted into the Rome Sports Hall of Fame

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-06 - ADOPTED [J01343 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J01343-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1343

BY: Senator GRIFFO

        HONORING  Billie  Mays  Jr.  upon  the occasion of
        being inducted into the Rome Sports Hall of Fame

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
outstanding athletes who have  distinguished  themselves  through  their
exceptional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Billie Mays Jr. upon the occasion of being inducted into the Rome Sports
Hall of Fame, to be celebrated at a Ceremony on Sunday, July  30,  2023;
and

  WHEREAS,  Every year, the Rome Sports Hall of Fame publicly commends
the pursuit of athletic excellence, recognizes those who have  excelled,
and  strives  to preserve Rome's rich athletic heritage; Billie Mays Jr.
is truly deserving of this prestigious award; and

  WHEREAS, The son of Kathy Upshaw and the man known  around  Rome  as
Willie  Mays,  Billie  Mays  Jr. grew up on West Fox Street; even though
Willie passed away when Billie was a senior  in  high  school,  he  will
always  remember the lessons his parents taught him about being the best
he can be; and

  WHEREAS, Billie Mays Jr. began his football career in the Pop Warner
program; with the guidance of several  outstanding  coaches,  he  played
fullback  and  linebacker in high school, becoming a perennial all-star,
MVP and Black "R" award winner at the Rome Free Academy; and

  WHEREAS, Billie Mays Jr. was then recruited to  play  linebacker  at
Ithaca  College  after  high school; during his junior year in 1991, the
Ithaca Bombers football team played in the Amos Alonzo Stagg  Bowl  (the
Division  III  national championship game) and beat Dayton 34-20; Billie
and the Bombers defense held Dayton to 13 yards of offense  and  no  1st
downs  in  the  second half to help seal the win, and in that season, he
lead the team in tackles and earned All-American honors; and

  WHEREAS, After graduating, Billie Mays Jr. coached both football and
track at the Rome Free Academy; in  this  capacity,  Coach  Mays  helped
develop   several  individual  sectional  champions,  a  team  sectional
championship and a few state  champions;  he  also  had  one  undefeated
outdoor track season in the spring of 2005; and

  WHEREAS,  With him throughout have been his wife Tara, and their two
children, Mariah and Billie III, all of whom feel  privileged  to  be  a
part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and

  WHEREAS,  Billie  Mays  Jr.  has  clearly made a contribution to the
spirit of excellence which is a tradition of his Rome community; and

  WHEREAS, It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that  when
individuals  of such outstanding athletic accomplishments are brought to

our attention, they should be recognized by all  the  citizens  of  this
great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Billie Mays Jr. upon the occasion of being inducted into the  Rome
Sports Hall of Fame; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Billie Mays Jr.