Senate resolution honors Don Shula

US Senate honors late Dolphins coach with a congressional resolution

The United States Senate passed a resolution last week to honor the life of legendary coach Don Shula, the iconic symbol of the Miami Dolphins for 26 seasons who died earlier this month.

Senate Resolution 573 was introduced on May 13 as “a resolution honoring the life and achievement of Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Donald Francis Shula and expressing condolences to his family on his passing.”

The resolution, which came nine days after Shula died on May 4 at the age of 90, was sponsored by Florida Senator Marco Rubio with Florida Senator Rick Scott and Maryland Senator Benjamin L. Cardin joining the effort as co-sponsors.

The resolution was submitted, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by unanimous consent on the same day it was introduced.

Here’s the resolution:

Honoring the life and achievement of Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Donald Francis Shula and expressing condolences to his family on his passing.

Whereas Coach Donald Francis Shula (referred to in this preamble as “Coach Shula”) was born on January 4, 1930, and grew up in Painesville, Ohio;

Whereas Coach Shula’s father immigrated to the United States from Hungary;

Whereas Coach Shula attended Harvey High School and later played collegiate football at John Carroll University;

Whereas, in 1951, the Cleveland Browns selected Coach Shula in the ninth round of the National Football League (referred to in this preamble as the “NFL”) draft as a defensive back;

Whereas, in addition to playing for the Cleveland Browns, Coach Shula also played for the Baltimore Colts and the Washington Redskins;

Whereas Coach Shula—

(1) began his coaching career at the University of Virginia;

(2) also coached at the University of

Kentucky; and

(3) coached as a defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions;

Whereas, in 1963, Coach Shula became the youngest coach in the NFL when he took the head coaching position at the Baltimore Colts;

Whereas, as the head coach of the Baltimore Colts, Coach Shula—

(1) compiled a record of 71 wins, 23 losses, and 4 ties; and

(2) won the NFL championship in 1968; Whereas, in 1970, Coach Shula became the head coach of the Miami Dolphins (referred to in this preamble as the “Dolphins”);

Whereas Coach Shula remained the head coach of the Dolphins for 26 seasons, took the Dolphins to 4 Super Bowls, and led the Dolphins to victory in 2 of those Super Bowls;

Whereas Coach Shula led the 1972 Dolphins team to a perfect season;

Whereas, in Super Bowl VII, Coach Shula led the Dolphins to victory over the Washington Redskins with a score of 14 to 7; Whereas, in Super Bowl VIII, Coach Shula led the Dolphins, the reigning Super Bowl champions, to victory over the Minnesota Vikings with a score of 24 to 7;

Whereas, after 33 years of coaching, Coach Shula retired from coaching in 1995 with the NFL record for most wins by a head coach, compiling a regular season record of 328 wins, 156 losses, and 6 ties and a postseason record of 19 wins and 17 losses;

Whereas Coach Shula was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997;

Whereas, following his coaching days, Coach Shula—

(1) supported many charities;

(2) gave generously to his local parish; and

(3) established the Don Shula Foundation to assist with breast cancer research; and

Whereas Coach Shula, a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother, passed away on May 4, 2020, at 90 years of age: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) recognizes the life and achievements of Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Donald Francis Shula (referred to in this resolution as “Coach Shula”);

(2) expresses condolences to the family of Coach Shula on his passing; and

(3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to—

(A) the family of Coach Shula; and

(B) the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins announced last week the first of a series of events to honor Shula, allowing fans to visit his statue at Hard Rock Stadium on May 22 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and May 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fans may enter the stadium through Gate 5 before heading to the East Gate near the Shula statue. They are encouraged to practice social distancing guidelines and not bring any items to the statue when visiting.

JOE CAVARETTA/SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL Former Dolphins coach Don Shula is honored at halftime of a game against the Bengals on Dec. 22 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Members of the undefeated 1972 team were gathered for the ceremony.