Reps. Richardville, Koetje, Hardman, Howell, Pappageorge, Shulman, Palmer, Brandenburg, Caswell, Nitz, Milosch, Hummel, Acciavatti, Bradstreet, Waters, Farrah, Sak, Smith, Hunter, Accavitti, Plakas, Tobocman, LaJoy, Julian, Rick Johnson, Ehardt, Shaffer, Meyer, Clack, Vagnozzi, Hood, Condino, Phillips, Gleason, Hopgood, Cheeks, Woodward, Zelenko, Kooiman, Gillard, Drolet, Bisbee, Huizenga, O'Neil, Byrum, Voorhees, Stewart, Pastor, Vander Veen, Caul, Robertson, Spade, Reeves, Murphy, Gieleghem, Hoogendyk, Taub, Meisner, McConico, Wojno, Bieda, Farhat, Moolenaar, DeRoche, Adamini, Ward, Brown, Anderson, Stakoe, Dillon, Jamnick and Daniels offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 373.

A resolution homoring former Detroit Football player Billy Sims.

Whereas, It is with heartfelt appreciation that we honor a player who demonstrated athletic excellence on the field of play befitting the legendary status ascribed to Detroit Lions uniform No. 20.  Billy Ray Sims was the standard by which all future Lions’ rushers would be measured.  Winner of the Heisman Trophy in his junior season at the University of Oklahoma, Sims burst onto the scene as a rookie when he rushed for over 1300 yards, caught for an additional 600 yards, and scored 16 touchdowns in the 1980 season.  With Sims in the backfield, the 1980 Detroit Lions improved their win total by seven games and captured the Central Division Title three years later; and

Whereas, In an abbreviated career cut short by injury, Sims was the Lions’ dominant rusher.  He finished his 60 game career with over 5,000 rushing yards averaging 4.5 yards per carry.  He was a receiving threat out of the backfield.  He caught 186 passes for 2,072 yards and finished with a combined 47 touchdowns.  No one can predict how long a man will possess his athletic gifts. What is important is what that athlete does with his talent in the time he has.  Sims’ career is a living testament to that philosophy.  He gave a superior effort every time he set foot on the field; now therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body honor Billy Sims of the Detroit Lions.  Mr. Sims set the standard by which all Lions’ rushers would be measured.