MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2008 By

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2008 By: Representatives Martinson, Akins, Denny To: Rules HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 66 1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE, LEGACY AND 2 OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC CAREER OF MR. HERMAN SIDNEY "EAGLE" DAY AND 3 EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS 4 PASSING. 5 WHEREAS, Mr. Herman Sidney "Eagle" Day, a legend in football, 6 departed this earthly life on February 22, 2008, at the age of 75, 7 causing great sorrow and loss to his family, friends and many 8 fans; and 9 WHEREAS, born October 2, 1932, in Columbia, Mississippi, Mr. 10 Day is a graduate of Columbia High School where he was rated 11 All-Southern, All-State and honorable mention All-American in 12 football and where he earned 16 prep letters in four sports; and 13 WHEREAS, Mr. Day, knowing the importance of furthering his 14 education, attended the University of Mississippi where he was a 15 two-time All-Southeastern Conference quarterback and where he led 16 the Rebels to SEC titles in 1954 and 1955; and 17 WHEREAS, due to his magnificent passing and running skills, 18 Mr. Day led Ole Miss to a 26-5-1 record in three seasons while 19 being coached by Mr. Johnny Vaught; and 20 WHEREAS, Mr. Day received the nickname "the Mississippi 21 Gambler" after being chosen as the Offensive Most Valuable Player 22 of the 1956 Cotton Bowl after setting up the win for Ole Miss that 23 resulted in a 14-13 upset victory over Texas Christian University 24 in the Rebel's first major bowl game; and 25 WHEREAS, during his career at Ole Miss, Mr. Day completed an 26 amazing 111 of 233 passes for 2,022 yards and he had 14 27 touchdowns, and he also had 2,428 yards of total offense and was 28 responsible for 21 touchdowns; and H. C. R. No. 66 *HR07/R1961* N1/2 08/HR07/R1961 PAGE 1 (OM\HS) 29 WHEREAS, Mr. Day, a man of many talents, also pitched and 30 earned three letters for the Rebels Baseball Team and took Ole 31 Miss to the College World Series in 1956; and 32 WHEREAS, Mr. Day, due to his outstanding athletic prowess, 33 was selected in the 17th round of the NFL draft by the Washington 34 Redskins, but he decided to play three seasons with Winnipeg of 35 the Canadian Football League (CFL) and then returned to play with 36 the Redskins for the 1959 and 1960 seasons, where he averaged 42.0 37 yards on 59 punts in 1960; and 38 WHEREAS, after playing for the Redskins for two seasons, Mr. 39 Day returned to the CFL where he compiled an outstanding 12-year 40 career earning the following awards: the All-Pro honors in 1961 41 and 1962, the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy in 1962 as the Most 42 Valuable Player in the West Division of the CFL and was runner-up 43 for MVP in Canada that year; and 44 WHEREAS, in addition to his numerous awards and honors, Mr. 45 Day was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1981, 46 into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Cotton 47 Bowl Hall of Fame in 2003; and 48 WHEREAS, throughout all of his endeavors, both on and off the 49 football field, Mr. Day was supported by his loving wife, JoAnne; 50 two successful children, Diana and William; and two grandchildren, 51 Ashley and Ali; and 52 WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to commend the 53 life of an outstanding Mississippian such as Mr. Day who brought 54 great honor to himself and to the great State of Mississippi: 55 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 56 REPRESENTATIVES, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby 57 commend the life, legacy and superior athletic career of Mr. 58 Herman Sidney "Eagle" Day and express deepest sympathy to his 59 family, friends and fans upon his passing. H. C. R. No. 66 *HR07/R1961* 08/HR07/R1961 PAGE 2 (OM\HS) 60 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 61 furnished to the family of Mr. Herman Sidney "Eagle" Day and to 62 the members of the Capitol Press Corps. H. C. R. No. 66 *HR07/R1961* 08/HR07/R1961 ST: Herman Sidney "Eagle" Day; commending the PAGE 3 (OM\HS) life and athletic career of upon his passing. .

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