H. Res. 1427 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

June 9, 2010. 

Whereas John Robert Wooden was born on October 14, 

1910, in Hall, Indiana; 

Whereas John Wooden began his basketball career at 

Martinsville High School and helped his team win the Indiana State high school basketball title in 1927; 

Whereas John Wooden later became a three-time all-American star guard at Purdue University, helped lead Purdue 

to the National Championship in 1932, was named the 

1932 national collegiate player of the year, and received 

the Big Ten medal for excellence in scholarship; 

Whereas John Wooden served honorably as a lieutenant in 

the United States Navy during World War II; 

Whereas John Wooden began his collegiate coaching career in 

1946 at Indiana State Teachers College (now Indiana 

State University), where he fought racial inequality by 

refusing an invitation to the 1947 National Association 

of Intercollegiate Basketball because an African-American player on his team would not be allowed to participate; 

Whereas John Wooden became head coach at the University 

of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1948 and quickly 

established a record of success with his student-athletes 
2 

•HRES 1427 EH 

both on and off the court that is legendary and unmatched; 

Whereas John Wooden led the UCLA Bruins to 10 National 

Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships 

(including 7 in a row), 19 conference championships, 12 

final four appearances, four perfect seasons, and a record 

88-game winning streak from 1971 to 1974; 

Whereas John Wooden was the first person elected to the 

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a 

player and as a coach; 

Whereas John Wooden was foremost an educator who always 

stressed the importance of team play while inspiring the 

development of individual talent and academic excellence; 

Whereas John Wooden was the personification of teamwork 

and good sportsmanship, and his name is synonymous 

with integrity; 

Whereas an annual award in John Wooden’s name is given 

to the Nation’s top college men’s and women’s basketball 

player; 

Whereas John Wooden won the lifelong respect of his colleagues, players, and fans for the values he lived and espoused; 

Whereas John Wooden’s renowned Wooden Pyramid of Success, which stresses industriousness, friendship, loyalty, 

cooperation, enthusiasm, self-control, alertness, initiative, 

intentness, condition, skill, team spirit, poise, and confidence as the building blocks for competitive greatness, 

is one of the most widely recognized blueprints for excellence in any pursuit; 
3 

•HRES 1427 EH 

Whereas, on July 23, 2003, John Wooden received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian 

honor recognizing exceptional meritorious service; 

Whereas, on December 20, 2003, the basketball floor at 

UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion was dedicated as ‘‘Nell and 

John Wooden Court’’; and 

Whereas John Wooden, whose death was preceded by his beloved wife Nell, is survived by his 2 children, Nancy and 

James, 7 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) honors John Wooden for his exceptional career 

as a coach, player, educator, and mentor, including his 

unrivaled achievements during his tenure at UCLA; 

(2) pays tribute to his iconic legacy of leadership, 

and recognizes the respect and admiration he earned 

through his dedication to the betterment of others; and 

(3) expresses condolences on his passing to his children, Nancy and James, his grandchildren, his greatgrandchildren, and the countless players, fans, and admirers who mourn his passing. 

Attest: 

Clerk.