Alabama House of Representatives Resolution H.J. R. 391 Commending Basketball Team
Source Collection
University of North Alabama Archives and Special Collections, UNA Athletics Collection, Collier Library
Description
Alabama House of Representatives Resolution H.J. R. 391 in commendation of the University of North Alabama Basketball Team's accomplishment during the 1977 season.
Transcript
State of Alabama
House of Representatives
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Resolution
H.J.R. 391
By Messrs, Hill, Greer, Coburn and Goodwin
COMMENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA BASKETBALL TEAM
WHEREAS, the UNA Lions captured the championship of the NCAA Division II Regional playoffs and, playing brilliantly, advanced to the national semifinals at Springfield, Massachusetts, where on March 19, 1977, their decisive 93-77 victory over Sacred Heart University put them in the nation's number 3 spot, marking the highest level of play, not only for UNA, but for any Gulf South Conference teams; and
WHEREAS, UNA's 24-7 season record also marks another first for the Lions, the most wins ever for any GSC school, an accomplishment due in large measure to the enthusiastic team spirit displayed by each player in every game throughout the entire season; and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Bill Jones and Assistant Coaches Tom Suitts and Gerald Douglass are deserving of credit and praise for the high degree of technical skill displayed in team play, with appreciative due also to Managers Downy Gerald Strawn and Belton Jones for their work towards this greatly successful season, and to Statistician James Monroe; and
WHEREAS, the University of North Alabama, the Gulf South Conference, and the state of Alabama were represented in this national competition by team members: James Willian Armstrong, James Otis Boddie, Freddie Louis Copeland, Richard Lee Hartry, Billy Ray Hill, Gerald Lavender, Garry Wayne Moone, Timothy John Morgan, Stephen Lee Sanders, Connie Lynn Vaughn, Richy Daryl Vaughn, and Larry Edward Vinson; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we heartily congratulate and commend the UNA Lions for championship participation and for ranking 3rd in the nation in the NCAA Division II finals, and direct that copies of this resolution be sent to UNA President, Robert M. Guillot and to Head Coach Billy Lee Jones.
I hereby certify that the above
resolution was adopted by the
Legislature of Alabama on this
the 5th day of April, 1977.
John W. Pemberton, Clerk [signed]
Date Created
1-28-2026
Date
April 5, 1977
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Alabama House of Representatives and Pemberton, John W., "Alabama House of Representatives Resolution H.J. R. 391 Commending Basketball Team" (2026). Documents. 2.
https://roar.una.edu/una_athletics_docs/2
Rights
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