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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
20-2
In the Council of the District of Columbia
January 8, 2013
To recognize and honor Doug Williams’ 35 years of contributions to the sport of football, and to mark the 25th anniversary of his Most Valuable Player performance as the first African-American quarterback to start in a Super Bowl game and to win a Super Bowl when the Washington Redskins defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII.
WHEREAS, as a college athlete at Grambling State University in 1977, Doug Williams led the nation in touchdown passes (38) and passing yards (3,286);
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams was named an All-American quarterback by the Associated Press and placed fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting;
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams was named the Black College Player of the Year twice, with NCAA career records in passing yards (8,411), total offense yards (8,354), and touchdown passes (93);
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams was selected 17th overall in the first round of the 1978 National Football League Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers;
WHEREAS, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a franchise had never advanced to the playoffs until Williams arrived;
WHEREAS, in 3 out of the next 4 seasons, the Buccaneers made playoff appearances, and in 1979 they played in the NFC Championship game.
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams joined the USFL and played with the Oklahoma Outlaws, who later became the Arizona Outlaws, for 4 seasons until the league disbanded in 1986.
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams returned to the NFL in 1986 and signed with the Washington Redskins, and in 1988, during Super Bowl XXII, Mr. Williams led the Redskins to score 42 unanswered points, including a record-breaking 35 points in the second quarter, and setting several other Super Bowl records.
WHEREAS, in Super Bowl XXII, as the Redskins routed the Denver Broncos 42-10, Mr. Williams completed 18 of 29 passes for 340 yards and 4 touchdowns and was named Super Bowl MVP.
WHEREAS, in 1997, Mr. Williams returned to Grambling as head football coach, succeeding the legendary Eddie Robinson;
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams’ Grambling team went 10-2 in 2000, 11-1 in 2001, and won the championship of the Southwestern Athletic Conference both years;
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams rejoined the Buccaneers as a personal executive and in 2009 was promoted to the director of professional scouting; and
WHEREAS, on June 21, 2010, it was announced that Mr. Williams would become General Manager of the Norfolk expansion franchise in the United Football League.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Doug Williams Recognition Resolution of 2013”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors Doug Williams for his contribution to sports, health, and fitness, and his commitment to the District of Columbia community.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
