PRINTER'S NO. 3477
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 494
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY COOPER, JOZWIAK, KINSEY, GALLAGHER AND ROWE,
JULY 2, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, JULY 2, 2024
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing October 18, 2024, as "Willie Thrower Day" in
2 Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Willie Lee Thrower, Sr., was born March 22, 1930, in
4 New Kensington; and
5 WHEREAS, On October 18, 1953, Willie Thrower became the first
6 African-American quarterback to take a snap in modern National
7 Football League history while playing for the Chicago Bears; and
8 WHEREAS, Willie Thrower was a part of the 1952 Michigan State
9 Spartans that won the national championship; and
10 WHEREAS, In 1979, Willie Thrower was elected to the
11 Westmoreland County Sports Hall of Fame, in 1981, he was
12 inducted into the AK Valley Hall of Fame and, in 2011, he was
13 inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame; and
14 WHEREAS, In 2003, the Willie Thrower Historical Marker was
15 erected on the road that runs past the high school he attended
16 in New Kensington; and
17 WHEREAS, In 2006, a statue of Willie Thrower was erected near
 1 Valley High School in New Kensington to honor his
2 accomplishments; and
3 WHEREAS, In 2021, the Willie Thrower Award Foundation debuted
4 an award for the top quarterback in the WPIAL and City League;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, October 18, 2023, was designated Willie Thrower
7 Community Day in New Kensington, as part of a four-day
8 celebration of the 70th anniversary of Thrower's play for the
9 Chicago Bears; therefore be it
10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize
11 October 18, 2024, as "Willie Thrower Day" in Pennsylvania.
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