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Councilmember Vincent C7Giray ~~
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Councilmember
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CBitcitmember Charles Allen Councilmember raWhite, Sr
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Couneitmember BrookePinto Councilmember keh K. Nadeau
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Councilmember
Dayidl Grosso Councilmember M. Cheh
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Councfimember Ken(anR. McDuffie
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ilmember Robert C. White, Jr.
r Elissa Silvrman
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
To posthumously celebrate the life and legacyofformer Georgetown University Basketball Coach
and longtime Ward 4 resident John R. Thompson, Jr.
WHEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr. was born on September 2, 1941 in Washington, D.C.;
WHEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr. attended Archbishop Carroll High Schoo! in the
Brookland neighborhoodofNortheast Washington, D.C. and graduated in 1960;
WHEREAS, while at Archbishop Carroll High School, John R. Thompson, Jr. excelled at
basketball, leading the Lions to three straight city championships;
WHEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr. averaged a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
best 21 points per game and lead Archbishop Carroll High School to a perfect 24-0 record during
his senior year;
47 WIIEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr. earned a scholarship to play basketball at Providence
College, where he played for the Friars for four years;
49
50 WHEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr, was a member of the 1963 Providence College
51 basketball team that won the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) as well as the 1964
52 Providence College haskctball team which became the first Providence College basketball team to
53 make it to the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament;
34
35 WHEREAS, during his senior year in 1964, John R, Thompson, Jr. received an honorable
56 mention from the Associated Press for its All-American team and also became Providence
57 College's all-time leader in points. points-per-game, and field goal percentage:
58
59 WHEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr. was drafted in the third round of the 1964 National
60 Basketbali Association (NBA) draft by the Boston Celtics;
61
62 WHEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr. played in the NBA for two years, oth with the Boston
63 Celtics, where he backed up legendary center Bill Russcll and won two NBA championships,
64 before retiring in 1966;
65
66 WHEREAS, upon retirement. John R. Thompson, Jr, became the head coach of St.
67 Anthony High School's basketball team in Washington D.C.:
68
69 WHEREAS, Jon R. Thompson, Jr. served as St. Anthonys head coach from 1966 to 1972,
70 amassing a record of 122-28;
71
72 WHEREAS, in 1972, John R. Thompson, Jr. was hired to become the head coach for
73 Georgetown Universitys mens basketball team;
74
vey WHEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr. lead the Georgetown Hoyas to the NCAA tournament
76 in only his thitd season as head coach, marking only the second appearance in the university's
Ww history, and the first since 1943;
78
7 WHEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr. lead the Georgetown Hoyas to the NCAA Tournament
80 Championship Game for the second time in thrce years in 1984, where he led the Hoyas to an 84-
81 75 win over Houston University, making John R. Thompson, Jr, the first African-American coach
82 to ever win the NCAA basketball championship, a historic feat:
83
WHEREAS, during his 27 seasons as hcad coachof Georgetown Universitys basketball
85 team, John R. Thompson, Jr. lead the Hoyas 10 a 596-239 record, 20 NCAA toumament
86 appearances, 4 NIT appearances, 3 NCAA tournament Final-Four appearances, and one NCAA
87 National Championship;
88.
89 WHLREAS, Jobn R. Thompson Jr, was affectionately known as Big John and would
often be seen on the sidelines coaching with his signature towel draped over his right shoulder;
oO
Nv
 92 WHEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr. was selected to coach the United States of Americas
93 Olympic basketball team in 1988, leading the USA to a bronze medal;
4
95 WHEREAS, on October 1, 1999, John R. Thompson, Jr. was inducted into the Naismith
96 Memorial Basketbalf Hall of Fame for his contributions to the gameof basketball;
oF
98 WHEREAS, John R. Thompson Jr. served on the Board of Directors for NIKE, Inc. for
99 almost 30 years, where he was largely known for his "servant leadership" around the NIKE brand;
100
101 WHEREAS, following his retirement from coaching, John R. Thompson, Jr. remained in
102 Washington, D.C. and continued to be an active memberof the basketball community, providing
103 color commentary for NBA basketball games with Turner Network Television and hosting /he
104 Jokn Thompson Show on ESPN radio until February 2012;
105
106 WHEREAS, in 2013, John R. Thompson, Jr. donated over $42.500 to the Boys and Girls
107 Clubs Butler-Wyatt Clubhouse in Washington, D.C., citing the impact that the facility had on
108 multiple generations of his family and Washingtonians alike, yet another example of the impact
109 that he had on the District and his willingness to give back;
110
ni WHEREAS, Join R. Thompson, Jr. was a trailblazer in basketball, where he was the first
2 Aftican-American to coach the United States Olympic team, first African-American to win an
n3 NCAA College Basketball Championship, and led the way on numerous social issues such as
114 walking off the court in protest of an NCAA rule prohibiting student-athletes from receiving
715 scholarship moneyiftheir SAT score was too low; and
16
117 WHEREAS, John R. Thompson, Jr. spent the majority of his life as a District resident and
118 was a long-time resident ofthe Crestwood neighborhood in Ward 4,
119 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DiSTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
120 resolution may be cited as the John R. Thompson, Jr. Posthumous Recognition Resolution of
121 202
122 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia joins in posthumously celebrating the
123 remarkable life of John R. Thompson, Jr. and remembering him for the tremendous impact that he
124 had on the District of Columbia and its residents.
125 Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in
126 the District of Columbia Register.