THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY CLYMER, ADOLPH, BEAR, BEYER, BOBACK, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DALEY, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FARRY, FLECK, GABIG, GODSHALL, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARHART, HARKINS, HARPER, HARRIS, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HUTCHINSON, W. KELLER, KILLION, KNOWLES, KOTIK, MAJOR, MARSICO, MELIO, METCALFE, MICCARELLI, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PETRI, PHILLIPS, QUIGLEY, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SABATINA, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, SONNEY, STERN, SWANGER, J. TAYLOR, VEREB, VITALI, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND YUDICHAK, APRIL 22, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, APRIL 22, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Supporting placement of a statue of legendary University of

Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagles center and linebacker

Chuck Bednarik at the Philadelphia Sports Complex.

WHEREAS, Charles Philip (Chuck) Bednarik, a Bethlehem native

and resident of Coopersburg, Lehigh County, was a standout as an

offensive and defensive collegiate and professional football

player; and

WHEREAS, A decorated World War II veteran, Mr. Bednarik

became one of the nation's top college football players with the

Penn Quakers following his discharge from the United States Air

Force; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bednarik was a three-time all-American and was

elected to the College Football Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bednarik received further recognition as the

nation's most outstanding college football player upon his

selection as 1948 Maxwell Award honoree; and

WHEREAS, In his professional football career, Mr. Bednarik

was one of only 13 players in National Football League (NFL)

draft history who were chosen as first-overall pick and who went

on to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Beginning his 14-season career with the Philadelphia

Eagles as first-overall pick of the 1949 draft, Mr. Bednarik

extended the team's era of league domination by frequently

playing both offense and defense; and

WHEREAS, In 1950, Mr. Bednarik received All-NFL recognition

as center; and

WHEREAS, From 1951 through 1957, and again in 1960, Mr.

Bednarik was named to the All-NFL roster as linebacker; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bednarik appeared in a record eight Pro Bowls

and was named most valuable player of the 1954 Pro Bowl; and

WHEREAS, In 1967, his first year of eligibility, Mr. Bednarik

was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bednarik was named in 1969 to the NFL All-Decade

Team for the 1950s, in 1987 to the Eagles Honor Roll and in 1994

to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team; and

WHEREAS, Since 1995, the Chuck Bednarik Award has been

presented annually to the best defensive collegiate football

player as selected by the Maxwell Football Club; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Eagles franchise has retired Mr.

Bednarik's jersey number 60; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives applaud Mr. Bednarik's

unique talents and achievements; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives support placement

of a statue of legendary University of Pennsylvania and

Philadelphia Eagles center and linebacker Chuck Bednarik at the

Philadelphia Sports Complex.