Introduced Version
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. _____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOLUTION
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the 100th
anniversary of The Hoosier Gym and the 35th anniversary of the
release of the film "Hoosiers".
LEISING, GARTEN
, re ad first time and referred to Committee on
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 Introduced
First Regular Session 122nd General Assembly (2021)
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. _____
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the 100th
2 anniversary of The Hoosier Gym and the 35th anniversary of
3 the release of the film "Hoosiers".
4 Whereas, The Hoosier Gym is a basketball gymnasium,
5 museum, and community center located in Knightstown,
6 Indiana, known for being a filming location in the world-
7 famous 1986 basketball movie "Hoosiers", starring Gene
8 Hackman and Dennis Hopper;
9 Whereas, In 1920, the Knightstown Community School had
10 no gymnasium for its students to practice sports or develop an
11 athletic education;
12 Whereas, In 1921, a half dozen Knightstown businessmen
13 met to discuss the planning and building of a "gymnasium and
14 community house" for the town's residents;
15 Whereas, In order to fund the planned gymnasium, these
16 Knightstown businessmen raised over $14,400 in donations
17 from hundreds of residents and local businesses;
18 Whereas, On December 1, 1921, construction was
19 completed, and the Knightstown gym was opened for business;
20 Whereas, Standing at 105 feet (32 meters) long and 80 feet
21 (24 meters) wide, the new gymnasium was home to not only
22 local basketball games, but also the town's community events;
23 Whereas, The Knightstown gymnasium hosted a number of
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1 professional basketball teams, including the Baltimore Orioles,
2 the EmRoes, and the Michigan Rails, along with players from
3 various colleges who would compete against local teams;
4 Whereas, By 1966, Knightstown had built a new high
5 school and gymnasium, and the original gym began to see less
6 and less use;
7 Whereas, The Knightstown High School Panthers played
8 their last official regular-season basketball game at the
9 original gym in February 1966;
10 Whereas, After serving as a center for the Knightstown
11 community for 45 years, the gym was retired, and remained
12 empty for the next nineteen years;
13 Whereas, In 1985, a film crew arrived in Knightstown,
14 Indiana, to scout out possible filming locations for the
15 upcoming movie "Hoosiers";
16 Whereas, "Hoosiers" is an American sports film written by
17 Angelo Pizzo and directed by David Anspaugh in his feature
18 directorial debut, and both men were raised in Indiana;
19 Whereas, The film was inspired by the "Milan Miracle," the
20 1954 Milan High School boys basketball team which, despite its
21 small student body, went on to win the Indiana High School
22 Athletic Association boys basketball state championship;
23 Whereas, Much of the film was shot within the gym, and
24 included many local Hoosiers as cast members and stand-ins;
25 Whereas, "Hoosiers" is often considered the greatest sports
26 movie of all time and was added to the National Film Registry
27 in 2001 by the Library of Congress for being "culturally,
28 historically, or aesthetically significant";
29 Whereas, Due to the fame and success of the film, the
30 original Knightstown gymnasium came to be known as "The
31 Hoosier Gym";
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1 Whereas, The Hoosier Gym's aesthetics have remained
2 unaltered since "Hoosiers" wrapped up filming in 1985;
3 Whereas, By 1988, The Hoosier Gym was facing possible
4 demolition, but was saved following efforts by Historic
5 Knightstown and Historic Landmarks of Indiana to help
6 preserve the gymnasium;
7 Whereas, Now, The Hoosier Gym continues to host over
8 100 high school basketball games each year as well as the
9 Hoosiers Reunion All-Star Classic, where Indiana's best high
10 school basketball players compete, with the teams named
11 "Hickory" and "Terhune", the same as in the "Hoosiers" film;
12 Whereas, "Hoosiers" and The Hoosier Gym continue to
13 broadcast the cultural impact and importance that basketball
14 has within the State of Indiana to individuals around the world;
15 and
16 Whereas, In 2021, The Hoosier Gym is celebrating its
17 100th anniversary, and the film "Hoosiers" is celebrating its
18 35th anniversary: Therefore
19 Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly
20 of the State of Indiana, the House of Representatives
21 concurring:
22 SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly
23 recognizes the 100th anniversary of The Hoosier Gym and 35th
24 anniversary of the release of the film "Hoosiers".
25 SECTION 2. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed
26 to transmit copies of this Resolution to Dr. Neil Shaneyfelt,
27 President of The Hoosier Gym Board of Directors.
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