MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2014 By: Senator(s) Jones, Browning, Burton, To: Rules Butler (38th), Carmichael, Clarke, Frazier, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Jolly, Kirby, Lee, Longwitz, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th) SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 509 1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS OF FORMER 2 PITTSBURGH STEELERS' STAR DEFENSIVE END L.C. GREENWOOD OF CANTON, 3 MISSISSIPPI. 4 WHEREAS, L.C. Greenwood of Canton, Mississippi, the 5 relentless defensive end who made up one-quarter of the Pittsburgh 6 Steelers' "Steel Curtain" defense of the 1970s, passed away on 7 September 29, 2013, at the age of 67; and 8 WHEREAS, L.C. Greenwood played for the Steelers from 1969 to 9 1981 and earned four Super Bowl rings. Selected to the Pro Bowl 10 six times, he registered over 73 career sacks, which ranks second 11 in franchise history. Greenwood, who was born September 8, 1946, 12 in Canton, Mississippi, became widely respected for his 13 consistency and his knack of avoiding major career-threatening 14 injuries; and 15 WHEREAS, L.C. Greenwood teamed up with Hall of Famer 16 defensive linemen Joe Greene, Dwight White and Ernie Holmes to 17 form the dominant defensive front four in the NFL in the 1970s. S. C. R. No. 509 *SS01/R210* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2 14/SS01/R210 PAGE 1 (tb\tb) 18 Many football historians consider it to be the best front four of 19 all time; and 20 WHEREAS, L.C. Greenwood was one of several players the 21 Steelers drafted or signed from small historically black colleges 22 in the 1970s. He was a 10th-round draft choice from Arkansas AM&N 23 (now Arkansas-Pine Bluff), and the Steelers discovered him when 24 going to scout another player; and 25 WHEREAS, at 6' 6" inches tall, L.C. Greenwood eventually 26 played at 245 pounds and was a menace to opposing quarterbacks. 27 If Greenwood didn't sack quarterbacks, he often batted down their 28 passes; and 29 WHEREAS, in the first of many clutch performances in big 30 games, L.C. Greenwood batted down two passes in the Steelers' 31 first Super Bowl victory, against Minnesota in 1975. In the Super 32 Bowl X victory against Dallas the following year, Greenwood sacked 33 Roger Staubach four times in the 21-17 win. Unlike the quiet 34 Holmes, the intimidating White and the unparalleled Greene, 35 Greenwood was a showman. While recovering from an ankle injury 36 during the 1973 season, Greenwood wore a pair of high-top cleats 37 that a friend painted gold. He wore them twice - both Steelers' 38 wins - and went back to his usual cleats after the ankle healed. 39 The Steelers lost the ensuing game, and the gold cleats soon 40 returned; and 41 WHEREAS, L.C. Greenwood was a finalist for the Pro Football 42 Hall of Fame in 2005 and 2006 but was not elected either year. S. C. R. No. 509 *SS01/R210* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 14/SS01/R210 PAGE 2 (tb\tb) 43 There had been a movement in recent years to get him into the Hall 44 of Fame via the seniors committee. Nicknamed "Hollywood Bags" and 45 known for wearing golden shoes, L.C. Greenwood quickly established 46 himself with the Steelers. In 1971, he had five fumble 47 recoveries, which tied for the NFL lead. In 1974, he posted a 48 career-high 11 sacks; and 49 WHEREAS, knee problems forced Greenwood to retire before the 50 1982 season. His 13 years in Pittsburgh are tied for the 51 third-longest tenure with the team in franchise history. 52 Greenwood remained in Pittsburgh after his retirement, working as 53 an entrepreneur and motivational speaker. He started and ran 54 several businesses, including a construction and paving company, a 55 packaging company, and an engineering firm. He also appeared in 56 several national and local commercials, including a national 57 Miller Lite beer campaign. Mr. Greenwood was a life member of the 58 NAACP, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and the American 59 Federation of Television and Radio Artists; and 60 WHEREAS, survivors include his children, Chelsea Greenwood 61 and Fernando Greenwood; sisters: Shelly Greenwood, Annie 62 Greenwood, Goffan Greenwood Simmons, Katie Greenwood Young and 63 Janice Greenwood Aderhold; brothers: Moses Greenwood, Jr., Henry 64 Greenwood and Michael Greenwood; and two grandchildren; and 65 WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this 66 outstanding NFL legend who was "as tough as they come" and brought 67 great credit upon his native state: S. C. R. No. 509 *SS01/R210* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 14/SS01/R210 PAGE 3 (tb\tb) 68 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 69 MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That 70 we do hereby mourn the loss of former Pittsburgh Steelers' star 71 defensive end L.C. Greenwood of Canton, Mississippi, and extend 72 the sympathy of the Legislature to his surviving family on his 73 passing. 74 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 75 the surviving family of L.C. Greenwood, forwarded to the 76 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and be made available to the 77 Capitol Press Corps. S. C. R. No. 509 *SS01/R210* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 14/SS01/R210 ST: Mourn the loss of former Pittsburgh PAGE 4 (tb\tb) Steelers' star defensive end L.C. Greenwood of Canton, Mississippi. .