06-R 343

2006 -- H 8275

Enacted 06/20/06

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY NAME THE BASKETBALL COURT AT THE DUNKIN DONUTS CENTER "DAVID GAVITT COURT"

Introduced By: Representatives McCauley, Murphy, Fox, Faria, and Watson

Date Introduced: June 20, 2006

     WHEREAS, Dave Gavitt was born in Westerly, Rhode Island and graduated from

Dartmouth College. After spending two years as assistant basketball coach at Worcester

Academy, he became an assistant coach at Providence College under the tutelage of legendary

coach Joe Mullaney; and

     WHEREAS, In 1966, Dave left Providence College to coach at his Alma Mater,

Dartmouth College. Gavitt was chosen to replace Mullaney in 1969 as the new Friars Basketball

coach. In his ten-year tenure as the Providence College Basketball coach he guided them to

heights never seen before or since; and

     WHEREAS, Gavitt led the Friars to eight straight postseason tournaments, including five

NCAA Tournament appearances and three NIT appearances. Included in this incredible run was

the great 1972-73 Providence Friars basketball team, a squad led by All-Americans Ernie

DiGregorio and Marvin Barnes and the sharp-shooting Kevin Stacom. This great team compiled

an incredible regular season record of 24-2, a final record of 27-4, advanced to the NCAA Final

4, and was very likely going to play for the national championship until a knee injury sidelined

Marvin Barnes in the Semi-Final game; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his coaching duties, Gavitt was the Providence College

Director of Athletics for 11 years, and it was under his watch that women's athletics were

instituted at Providence College. Gavitt is possibly best known for being the leading force behind

the formation of the powerful Big East Conference, a conference that included Providence

College. Gavitt was the Conference's first Commissioner serving from 1979 to 1990. For his

numerous contributions to the sport of basketball, Dave Gavitt was inducted into the Basketball

Hall of Fame; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests that the Rhode Island Convention Center

Authority name the basketball court at the Dunkin Donuts Center "David Gavitt Court"; and be it

further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority.

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LC03547

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