Title: A resolution honoring Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, 11-time National Basketball Association champion, first Black head coach of the National Basketball Association, and civil rights activist.
Policy area: Sports and Recreation

Summary:
This resolution honors the life of William "Bill" Felton Russell (basketball player and coach with the Celtics and civil rights activist) and expresses condolences to his family and friends.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 759 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 759

     Honoring Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, 11-time National 
Basketball Association champion, first Black head coach of the National 
           Basketball Association, and civil rights activist.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 13, 2022

    Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Warren, Ms. Hassan, and Mr. Reed) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Honoring Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, 11-time National 
Basketball Association champion, first Black head coach of the National 
           Basketball Association, and civil rights activist.

Whereas William ``Bill'' Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in West 
        Monroe, Louisiana;
Whereas, after graduating from McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, in 
        1952, Russell was recruited to play basketball at the University of San 
        Francisco;
Whereas, in 2 seasons, Russell led the University of San Francisco Dons men's 
        basketball team to a combined record of 57-1 and 2 national 
        championships and was named most outstanding player of the 1955 National 
        Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball Tournament;
Whereas, in the 1956 draft for the National Basketball Association (commonly 
        known as the ``NBA''), the Boston Celtics acquired Russell, who the St. 
        Louis Hawks had selected with the second overall pick in the draft;
Whereas, at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, Russell was the 
        captain of the United States Men's Olympic Basketball team, averaged a 
        team-high 14.1 points per game, and led the United States to a gold 
        medal victory over the Soviet Union;
Whereas, throughout his career in the NBA as a player and a coach, Russell 
        earned an unprecedented number of awards and accolades, including--

    (1) a record 11 NBA championships, received in years 1957, 1959, 1960, 
1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969;

    (2) five Most Valuable Player awards, received in years 1958, 1961, 
1962, 1963, and 1965;

    (3) twelve All-Star designations, received in years 1958, 1959, 1960, 
1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969;

    (4) three All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Awards, received in years 
1959, 1963, and 1965; and

    (5) an NBA Lifetime Achievement Award, received in 2017;

Whereas, in Game 7 of the 1957 NBA Finals between the Celtics and the St. Louis 
        Hawks, during the final minute of regulation, Russell, who scored 19 
        points and had 32 rebounds, hit a left-handed lay-up and then chased 
        down and blocked a shot in transition, forcing the first of 2 overtimes;
Whereas the Celtics won the game and championship in what fellow Celtics player 
        Tom Heinsohn called the ``greatest game ever'';
Whereas Russell was a player-coach for the Celtics from 1966 to 1969, making him 
        the first Black head coach in the history of the 4 major professional 
        sports leagues;
Whereas the strength, courage, and leadership of Russell extended beyond the 
        basketball court to the fight against racism and for civil rights in the 
        United States;
Whereas, in 1961, Russell led his teammates in a boycott of an NBA game in 
        Lexington, Kentucky, to protest racism and discrimination after a local 
        coffee shop refused to serve 2 Black Celtics players;
Whereas Russell marched with the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during 
        the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom;
Whereas, in 1963, Russell offered support for demonstrations against segregation 
        in Boston public schools and addressed Black students taking part in a 
        sit-in;
Whereas, on June 4, 1967, Russell took part in the Cleveland Summit, where he 
        joined other prominent Black athletes to express solidarity with 
        Muhammad Ali's decision to refuse to join the Armed Forces upon being 
        drafted to fight in the Vietnam War;
Whereas, on February 15, 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Russell the 
        Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United 
        States, stating that ``Bill Russell, the man, is someone who stood up 
        for the rights and dignity of all men. He marched with King; he stood by 
        Ali. When a restaurant refused to serve the Black Celtics, he refused to 
        play in the scheduled game. He endured insults and vandalism, but he 
        kept on focusing on making the teammates who he loved better players, 
        and made possible the success of so many who would follow. And I hope 
        that one day, in the streets of Boston, children will look up at a 
        statue built not only to Bill Russell the player, but Bill Russell the 
        man.'';
Whereas, on August 11, 2022, the NBA announced that it will honor the life and 
        legacy Bill Russell by permanently retiring his uniform number, 6, 
        throughout the league, making Russell the first player to have his 
        number retired across the NBA;
Whereas Russell has earned the love, respect, admiration, and gratitude of the 
        city of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the United 
        States; and
Whereas Russell passed away on July 31, 2022, at age 88: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the legendary life of William ``Bill'' Felton 
        Russell, a giant on and off the basketball court; and
            (2) expresses sincere condolences to the family and friends 
        of Russell as the city of Boston, the Commonwealth of 
        Massachusetts, and the United States mourn with them.
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