Honoring the life and legacy of Jack Trice.

Bill: 118-hres-724
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4]
Introduced: 2023-09-26
Policy area: Sports and Recreation
Latest action: action_date: 2023-10-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4954-4955)

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-09-26
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution honors the life and legacy of Jack Trice (Iowa State University's first African-American student-athlete).</p>

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 724 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 26, 2023 Mr. Feenstra submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce RESOLUTION Honoring the life and legacy of Jack Trice.

Whereas Jack Trice, born John G. Trice on May 12, 1902, in Hiram, Ohio, was Iowa State University’s first African-American student-athlete; Whereas, after an all-State football career at East Technical High School in Cleveland, Jack Trice enrolled at Iowa State College, now Iowa State University, in 1922, at the encouragement of his high school coach, Sam Willaman, who had recently been named football coach at Iowa State; Whereas Jack studied animal husbandry at Iowa State and planned to help Black farmers after his graduation; Whereas, during his sophomore year, Jack’s second game was at the University of Minnesota; Whereas the night before the game, Jack was alone in his hotel room, and he wrote a letter with his thoughts on the game and its significance, and part of the letter read: The honor of my race, family, and self are at stake. Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will! ; Whereas the next day, October 6, 1923, on one of the first plays of the game, Jack was injured, but refused to leave the game; Whereas in the second half, Jack was trampled by Minnesota players and was taken to the hospital, but doctors cleared him for a return to Ames, Iowa; Whereas, on Monday, October 8, Jack Trice tragically passed away from internal bleeding and injuries sustained during the game 2 days before; Whereas a memorial service was held on the central campus of Iowa State University, and the college raised money for Jack’s mother and his wife, and a plaque was displayed in State Gym; Whereas, in 1997, Iowa State University’s football stadium was renamed from Cyclone Stadium to Jack Trice Stadium, and it remains the only major college football stadium named for an African American; Whereas today, the work to honor Jack’s legacy continues at Iowa State University through the Jack Trice Character Award and Jack Trice Endowed Scholarship; Whereas October 2023 marks the 100-year anniversary of the tragic death of Jack Trice; Whereas Iowa State University will host the Jack Trice Legacy Game on October 7, 2023, to pay tribute to his legacy which continues; Whereas, on October 8, 2023, Iowa State University will host a ceremony honoring Jack exactly 100 years after his death on the central campus lawn, the same location as his funeral on October 9, 1923, where hundreds of students paid their respects; and Whereas, with this resolution, to honor the life of Jack Trice, a young man that has inspired decades of students, faculty, staff, Cyclone fans, alumni, and community members: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives honors the life and legacy of Jack Trice.