A resolution proclaiming Saturday, February 21, 2004 as “Perry Wallace Day” in Davidson County.

WHEREAS, Perry Wallace, who made history becoming the first African-American scholarship athlete in Southeastern Conference history, will have his basketball jersey retired by Vanderbilt University on Saturday, February 21, 2004, prior to the Commodores’ game with Louisiana State University; and

WHEREAS, Wallace becomes only the third Vanderbilt student-athlete to have a jersey retired and displayed in Memorial Gym, joining Commodore All-Americans Clyde Lee and Wendy Scholtens; and

WHEREAS, Wallace attended Nashville’s Pearl-Cohn High School and was a star on its undefeated state championship basketball team, the first year Tennessee integrated its high school tournament; and

WHEREAS, although Wallace was sought by approximately 80 universities, mostly located in the north, Vanderbilt Head Basketball Coach Roy Skinner was able to convince Wallace that both the timing and the Commodores were right for him; and

WHEREAS, Wallace arrived on Vanderbilt’s campus in the fall of 1966 and overcame the adversity associated with social trail-blazers to become one of the Commodores’ finest student-athletes and, later, one of its most distinguished alumni; and

WHEREAS, Thirty-four years later, Perry Wallace is still Vanderbilt’s second leading rebounder and ranks 35th in scoring, playing just three years from 1968–70 because Freshmen were not eligible to play with the varsity at that time; Wallace was named All-Southeastern Conference his senior year; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Vanderbilt with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Mathematics, Wallace earned his J.D. degree in 1975 from the School of Law at Columbia University, and went on to a law career in the Washington, D.C. area; and

WHEREAS, during his career, Wallace earned a number of honors, including the SEC Sportsmanship Trophy; in 1966 being named to the Silver Anniversary All-American Team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches; was inducted into the Class of 2003 of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame; will be honored in March 2004 as a “Living Legend” at the Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, as a unique tribute to the former star, the Vanderbilt University students and faculty will honor Perry Wallace by retiring his jersey at a ceremony February 21, 2004, prior to the Commodores’ game with Louisiana State University; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council proclaim Saturday, February 21, 2004, as “Perry Wallace Day” in Davidson County.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as proclaiming Saturday, February 21, 2004, as “Perry Wallace Day” in Davidson County.

Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.