LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Muhammad Ali, three-time
World heavyweight boxing champion, role model and humanitarian

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding athletes who distinguish themselves through their excep-
tional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement; and
WHEREAS, It is with great sorrow and deep regret that this Legislative
Body records the passing of Muhammad Ali, noting the significance of his
purposeful life and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, Widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated
sporting figures of the 20th Century, Muhammad Ali died on Friday, June
3, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the age of 74; and
WHEREAS, Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942, in
Louisville, Kentucky, to Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr. and Odessa O'Grady
Clay, Muhammad Ali became interested in boxing at a young age when his
bicycle was stolen; Louisville Police Officer and Boxing Coach Joe E.
Martin suggested to the irate 12 year-old that he should learn to box to
ensure it would never happen again; and
WHEREAS, Cassius Clay, Jr. made his amateur boxing debut in 1954; he
would go on to win six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Gold-
en Gloves titles, an Amateur Athletic Union national title, and the
Light Heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy;
his amateur record was 100 wins with five losses; and
WHEREAS, Cassius Clay, Jr. made his professional debut on October 29,
1960, under the direction of trainer and mentor Angelo Dundee, who would
remain with him throughout his 22 year career, before retiring in 1981;
and
WHEREAS, In his first professional match, Cassius Clay, Jr. won a
six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker; from then until the end of
1963, he amassed a record of 19-0 with 15 wins by knockout; and
WHEREAS, Cassius Clay, Jr. defeated numerous boxers including Tony
Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, Alonzo Johnson, George Logan,
Willi Besmanoff, Lamar Clark, Doug Jones and Henry Cooper; in addition,
he defeated his former trainer and veteran boxer Archie Moore in a 1962
match; and
WHEREAS, By late 1963, Cassius Clay, Jr. became the top contender for
Sonny Liston's heavyweight title; after six rounds, he was declared the
winner by TKO when Liston failed to answer the bell; and
WHEREAS, At 22 years old, Cassius Clay, Jr. declared himself "The
Greatest," proving his pre-match prediction to "float like a butterfly
and sting like a bee"; and
WHEREAS, Shortly after capturing the title, Cassius Clay, Jr. became a
member of the Nation of Islam and the sect leader, Elijah Muhammad,
personally renamed him Muhammad Ali; and
WHEREAS, After a nearly four year sabbatical, 30 year-old Muhammad Ali
returned to boxing in October of 1970; on March 8, 1971, he squared off
with the current heavyweight champion, Joe Frazier, at Madison Square
Garden in what was billed as the "Fight of the Century"; the match was
broadcasted to 35 foreign countries; and
WHEREAS, Muhammad Ali began training at a farm near Reading, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1971 and, finding the country setting to his liking, sought to
develop a real training camp in the countryside; and
WHEREAS, He found a five-acre site on a Pennsylvania country road in
the village of Deer Lake, Pennsylvania; on this site, he carved out what
was to become his training camp, the camp where he lived and trained for

all the many fights he had from 1972 on to the end of his career in the
1980s; and
WHEREAS, The defeat of Joe Frazier set the stage for a title fight
against heavyweight champion George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, on Octo-
ber 30, 1974; during this bout, nicknamed "The Rumble in the Jungle,"
Muhammad Ali knocked him out in the 8th round and regained the heavy-
weight title; and
WHEREAS, He then faced Joe Frazier for the third and final time in
"Thrilla in Manila," a bout held in the Philippines in 1975; in the 15th
round Muhammad Ali won by TKO; and
WHEREAS, Due to his successful boxing career, Muhammad Ali became an
international celebrity; he starred in the 1977 film adaptation of his
autobiography, "The Greatest" which soared him to superstar status; and
WHEREAS, In 1984, Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome
but would later be identified as Parkinson's disease; despite his
illness, he remained active with several public appearances such as the
1987 Tournament of Roses Parade, lit the flame at the 1996 Summer Olym-
pics in Atlanta, and was on the set of the 2001 film entitled "Ali"
starring Will Smith; and
WHEREAS, Remembered by countless fans, friends and family members,
Muhammad Ali is survived by his fourth wife, Yolanda ("Lonnie")
Williams; nine children, Laila Ali, Rasheda Ali, Hana Ali, Asaad Amin,
Maryum Ali, Jamillah Ali, Khaliah Ali, Muhammad Ali Jr., Miya Ali; and a
brother, Rahman Ali; and
WHEREAS, A gifted athlete, Muhammad Ali was a renowned legend in the
sport of professional boxing; after more than two decades, his character
and achievements stand as a sterling example and inspiration to all who
would aspire to succeed; he will be deeply missed and truly merits the
grateful tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Muhammad Ali, three-time World heavyweight boxing
champion, role model and humanitarian, and to express its deepest condo-
lences to his family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Muhammad Ali.