SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 5
(By Senators Blatnik and Miller)
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 Senate condemns the wrong that prevented Paul "Rocky" Gates from receiving his Golden Horseshoe Award in 1957,
and this Senate 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 Senate:
That the achievements and contributions of Henry Louis
"Skip" Gates, Jr., are hereby recognized, and the Senate 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 is hereby directed to
forward a copy of this resolution to Henry Louis "Skip" Gates,
Jr., and Paul "Rocky" Gates.