By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chambers, and Delegates Hutchins, Michael, J. Martin, Mezzatesta, Gallagher, Douglas, Fleischauer, Manuel, Kominar, Kuhn, Rowe, Johnson and Moore:
H. C. R. 16--"Recognizing the achievements and contributions of Henry Louis 'Skip' Gates, Jr., and condemning the vestiges of racial segregation that prevented his brother, Paul 'Rocky' Gates, from receiving appropriate recognition as a 1957 Golden Horseshoe Award winner."
Whereas, In 1957, public schools in this state were desegregated, but certain hotels in Charleston, West Virginia, remained segregated and student winners of the Golden Horseshoe Award were presented their award in that city; and
Whereas, In 1957, Paul "Rocky" Gates, a black student at Piedmont High School in Mineral County, West Virginia, became a Golden Horseshoe Award winner, but could not attend the awards ceremony at a segregated Charleston hotel; and
Whereas, This Legislature condemns the wrong that prevented Paul "Rocky" Gates from receiving his Golden Horseshoe Award in 1957, and this Legislature celebrates the demise of the last vestiges of legal segregation which Paul "Rocky" Gates and his brother, Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr., rose above to attain educational and professional success; and
Whereas, Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr., the chairman of Harvard University's African-American Studies Department, has received the prestigious American Book Award and the MacArthur Foundation "Genius Award" and is the author of "Colored People", a memoir of his West Virginia youth; and
Whereas, The educational achievements and literary contributions of Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr., have been a source of great pride to this State and its people and he has been chosen as the 1994 West Virginian of the Year; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the achievements and contributions of Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr., are hereby recognized, and the Legislature hereby condemns the vestiges of racial segregation that prevented his brother, Paul "Rocky" Gates, from receiving appropriate recognition as a 1957 Golden Horseshoe Award winner; and, be it
Further Resolved, That a belated honorary Golden Horseshoe Award be given to Paul "Rocky" Gates; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr., and Paul "Rocky" Gates.