A Resolution congratulating and commending John A. Freeman for past success in History Day competition
and wishing him good fortune in future endeavors.
WHEREAS, John A. Freeman, the son of Glenn and Mary Freeman, was awarded first
place for junior individual performance in the National History Day Competition for sev-
enth grade students in the 1996-97 school year; and
WHEREAS, John's award winning entry was ``Robinson and Rickey: Breaking the Color
Barrier'' which was inspired by John's viewing of a television interview of Rachel Robinson,
the widow of baseball legend, Jackie Robinson. When John heard Rachel Robinson mention
that 1997 would mark the 50th anniversary of Jackie's entrance into major league baseball,
John decided to develop the topic for his History Day project; and
WHEREAS, John was not a novice in the History Day competition. In the 1995-96
school year, as a sixth grader, John's entry in the competition was ``The Silent Gesture
Heard Around the World: Taking a Stand at the `68 Olympics'' for which he placed second
in the nation for junior individual performance; and
WHEREAS, John is a native Topekan who is 14 years old and a student at Topeka
Collegiate. An avid sports fan and competitor, John's favorite sport is soccer, in which he
participates both in a league and on a school team. John also plays baseball and basketball;
and
WHEREAS, Topeka Collegiate requires its sixth and seventh grade students to prepare
an entry for the History Day competition even though they are not required to enter the
competition. With his affinity for sports, selecting History Day topics that involved sports
figures was a natural choice for John. In preparation of both History Day entries, John
interviewed the key people involved, Rachel Robinson and the two players involved in the
1968 Olympics controversy; and
WHEREAS, John also participates in Topeka Collegiate Singers and is involved in the
Topeka Civic Theater. He parlayed his interest in theater into preparation of a dramatic
presentation as a reporter at the 1968 Olympics and as Branch Rickey, Jackie Robinson's
manager; and
WHEREAS, Despite his busy schedule, John enthusiastically presents his dramatic per-
formance of ``Rickey and Robinson'' to various audiences, including the Joint Committee
on Arts and Cultural Resources: Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we congratulate and commend
John A. Freeman for his past success in History Day competitions and wish him good
fortune in his future endeavors; and
Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to send enrolled
copies of this resolution to John A. Freeman and to his parents, Glenn and Mary Freeman,
all at 1523 S.W. High, Topeka, Kansas 66604, and to Topeka Collegiate at 2200 S.W.
Eveningside Drive, Topeka, Kansas 66614.
Senate Resolution No. 1801 was sponsored by Joint Committee on Arts and Cultural Re-
sources.
I hereby certify that the above Resolution originated in the Senate, and was adopted
by that body