House Resolution 32 - Introduced PAG LIN H.R. ________ S.R. ________ 1 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY RAECKER and FORD 1 3 A Resolution to commemorate the 100th anniversary of 1 4 the Drake Relays. 1 5 WHEREAS, Drake University, in the heart of Des 1 6 Moines, Iowa, will host the centennial Drake Relays in 1 7 April 2009; and 1 8 WHEREAS, just five years after being held in a 1 9 blizzard in 1910, the Drake Relays was recognized as 1 10 the third=largest track and field event in the world; 1 11 and 1 12 WHEREAS, the Drake Relays is one of Iowa's premier 1 13 events, an annual multiday festival that has expanded 1 14 beyond the campus of Drake University to encompass 1 15 several venues throughout the Des Moines area; and 1 16 WHEREAS, the Relays' high school track and field 1 17 events attract hundreds of young men and women 1 18 athletes and their supporters and families from all 1 19 over Iowa; and 1 20 WHEREAS, upon entering its second century the Drake 1 21 Relays have grown to become one of the largest and 1 22 most important track meets in the United States, 1 23 attracting top collegiate and professional talent; and 1 24 WHEREAS, over the decades a host of famous athletes 1 25 and personalities have participated in the Drake 1 26 Relays, including: fabled Olympic sprinter Jesse 1 27 Owens; radio announcer and future President Ronald 1 28 Reagan; Big Eight champion high jumper and future NBA 1 29 Hall=of=Famer Wilt Chamberlain; world=record miler Jim 1 30 Ryun; world=record decathlete Bruce Jenner; nine=time 2 1 Olympic gold medal winner Carl Lewis; Pan American 2 2 Games silver medal distance runner Cindy Bremser; NCAA 2 3 champion distance runner Steve Scott; four=time 2 4 Olympian high jumper Amy Acuff; and Iowa athletes Lori 2 5 "Lolo" Jones and Natasha Kaiser=Brown; and 2 6 WHEREAS, as part of this centennial event, 10 men 2 7 and 10 women who have competed in the Relays will be 2 8 named as Athletes of the Century; NOW THEREFORE, 2 9 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2 10 That the House of Representatives honors and 2 11 congratulates Drake University as the Drake Relays is 2 12 poised to enter its second century of excellence, 2 13 achievement, and excitement. 2 14 LSB 1940HH 83 2 15 jr/nh/5