THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY S. H. SMITH, TURZAI, DERMODY, REED, CAUSER, FLECK, SAYLOR, EVANKOVICH, WATSON, EMRICK, BAKER, HENNESSEY, HESS, GEIST, DiGIROLAMO, GEORGE, HARKINS, VEREB, ROSS, PASHINSKI, SONNEY, MIRABITO, PAYTON, GINGRICH, GIBBONS, HEFFLEY, CLYMER, HICKERNELL, CREIGHTON, READSHAW, KNOWLES, PYLE, MILLARD, ELLIS, YOUNGBLOOD, MUSTIO, MILLER, BARRAR, M. SMITH, EVERETT, OBERLANDER, KULA, STEVENSON, STERN, METZGAR, STABACK, SWANGER, GODSHALL, MAHER, GILLEN, SCAVELLO, MARSHALL, BROOKS, O'NEILL AND SACCONE, MAY 21, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 21, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring Hines Ward for his distinguished career with the

Pittsburgh Steelers.

WHEREAS, Hines Ward was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers

from the University of Georgia in the third round of the 1998

NFL draft; and

WHEREAS, During his career with the Steelers, this incredibly

versatile athlete led the team in at least one team category

every year, including the all-time receiving leader in

receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns; and

WHEREAS, Hines Ward has the distinction as the only Steeler

in history to have 1,000 catches and more than 12,000 receiving

yards and the only receiver to amass more than 1,000 receiving

yards in four consecutive seasons (2001-2004); and

WHEREAS, Hines Ward holds every receiving record in Steeler

history has earned three team Most Valuable Player selections

and four consecutive Pro Bowl selections; and

WHEREAS, Hines Ward has led his team to three AFC

Championships, three Super Bowls and two Super Bowl

championships and was named Super Bowl XL's Most Valuable Player

in the Steelers' 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in

2006; and

WHEREAS, In his final season as a Pittsburgh Steeler, Hines

Ward became only the eighth receiver in NFL history to reach

1,000 catches in his career and the first in Steeler history to

reach 1,000 career receptions and win multiple Super Bowls; and

WHEREAS, In addition to being a gifted athlete, Hines Ward

has dedicated much of his personal time to helping children; and

WHEREAS, After scoring a touchdown during home games, he was

known for searching the stands for a child wearing his #86

jersey and presenting that child with the touchdown ball; and

WHEREAS, This native of Seoul, South Korea, has started his

own foundation, the "Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation," that

has as its chief cause the goal of ending biracial

discrimination in the United States and South Korea; and

WHEREAS, The Helping Hands U.S. Foundation focuses on

improving literacy among children and providing programs to

better equip them for achieving and handling success in life;

and the Korea Foundation targets biracial discrimination; and

WHEREAS, Hines Ward has also willingly volunteered his time

with Pearl S. Buck International, The Caring Foundation, Cystic

Fibrosis Foundation, Salvation Army, Make-A-Wish Foundation,

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the NFL's Take a Player to

School program; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor Hines Ward

for the quality of his character, his outstanding athletic

accomplishments and for providing the fans with many memorable

moments and lots of reasons to cheer during this fourteen

seasons on the field with the Pittsburgh Steelers.