2020 -- H 8031

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JACQUELINE COURT

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Diaz, Cassar, Alzate, and Almeida

     Date Introduced: June 17, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with utmost sadness that this House has learned of the passing of

Jacqueline Court, a trailblazer in the fight for women's equality in sports, and the cherished wife

of the late Kenneth Court for fifty years, devoted mother of Kenneth Court and John Court,

mother-in-law of Julie Court, and the loving grandmother of Jessica Court; and

     WHEREAS, “Jackie” as she was known by her family and many friends, was born and

raised in the Bronx, New York, the daughter of the late John and Cora Stewart. She graduated

from Hampton University, where she excelled in science, dance and physical education; and

     WHEREAS, During her college years, Mrs. Court had met and later married her husband

Kenneth and the couple moved to Rhode Island. She started teaching in 1969, breaking barriers as

she became the first minority coach to be hired by Brown University, where she inspired so many

young people as the head gymnastics coach for more than thirty years; and

     WHEREAS, In 1997, and again in 1999, Mrs. Court was named ECAC Coach of the

Year, and the NCAA Northeast Region Coach of the Year, also in 1999. For eighteen years, she

served as the State’s 1st Chairperson of USA Gymnastics, was District Chairperson for the

National High School Federation, and served on the advisory boards for both the Women's Sports

Foundation and the New England Women's Fund; and

     WHEREAS, Beloved by her students and respected by her peers, Mrs. Court was a

nationally ranked gymnastics official for more than forty years, and earned a Special Service

Award from the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches in 1994 and 1996, and

was inducted into the Northeast Women's Hall of Fame; and

     WHEREAS, The most fitting tribute to Jackie Court is a celebration of her life, as a

devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and a dynamic pioneer for women's equality in sports.

She will be dearly missed; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

extends deepest condolences on the passing of Jacqueline Court; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Kenneth Court and John Court.

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