HR 9097

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution recognizing and honoring the extraordinary
3	life and achievements of George Steinbrenner.
4
5	WHEREAS, George Michael Steinbrenner III was born July 4,
6	1930, in Rocky River, Ohio, graduated from Culver Military
7	Academy, and received his bachelor's degree from Williams
8	College, where he was a member of the varsity track and field
9	team and played halfback on the school's football team, and
10	WHEREAS, following his college graduation, George
11	Steinbrenner served 3 years in the United States Air Force,
12	where he attained the rank of Second Lieutenant, and following
13	his military service earned a master's degree from the Ohio
14	State University, where he also served as a graduate assistant
15	to legendary Buckeye football coach Woody Hayes, and
16	WHEREAS, after several successful business ventures that
17	included purchasing the Kinsman Marine Transit Company, the
18	American Shipping Company, and the Cleveland Pipers of the
19	American Basketball League, George Steinbrenner led a group of
20	investors in purchasing the Yankees from CBS Broadcasting, Inc.,
21	on January 3, 1973, and
22	WHEREAS, George Steinbrenner owned the storied New York
23	Yankees franchise from 1973-2010, resurrecting the franchise
24	from a decade of struggles to add 11 American League pennants
25	and 7 World Series championships to its already staggering 29
26	pennants and 20 World Series titles, and
27	WHEREAS, George Steinbrenner recognized that his one duty
28	to Yankees' fans was to win World Series and, although he
29	understood he would be vilified often for his decisions, he took
30	on that role willingly because he knew all would be forgiven
31	upon each Yankees' title-clinching victory, and in doing so he
32	renewed Major League Baseball's greatest dynasty, and
33	WHEREAS, after moving to Tampa in the early 1970's, George
34	Steinbrenner began to establish a legacy of community
35	involvement and charity going far beyond any victory his teams
36	had on the field, giving millions of dollars and helping raise
37	millions more for a myriad of causes benefitting the Tampa Bay
38	area and the State of Florida, and
39	WHEREAS, George Steinbrenner established the Gold Shield
40	Foundation with the goal of assisting families of fallen police
41	officers and firefighters and helping ensure a college education
42	or vocational training for their widows and children, and
43	WHEREAS, having seen a need for special care for injured
44	and sick children, George Steinbrenner donated the Pediatric
45	Emergency wing of St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, and
46	WHEREAS, recognizing the importance of education in the
47	lives of children and the valuable life lessons inherent in
48	sports, George Steinbrenner donated millions of dollars and
49	helped raise millions more for causes such as an annual holiday
50	orchestra concert for at-risk youth, an aquatic center for The
51	Academy of Holy Names, a state-of-the-art outdoor track for
52	Sickles High School, and a middle school athletics program for
53	Hillsborough County, and
54	WHEREAS, appreciating the great sacrifices of our military
55	men and women as well as our Florida Highway Patrol, George
56	Steinbrenner donated funds to build monuments to honor those
57	sacrifices and give aid to their families, and
58	WHEREAS, George Steinbrenner passed away on July 13, 2010,
59	leaving a distinguished legacy of charitable contributions to a
60	grateful community, state, and country, NOW, THEREFORE,
61
62	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
63	Florida:
64
65	That George Steinbrenner is recognized and honored for his
66	outstanding legacy of philanthropy and lifetime achievements.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.