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COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 11/20/2024-SPECIAL ORDERED 11/18/2024-REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY BILL NO. 35-0394 Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands October 30, 2024 An Act honoring and commending Arthur Solomon for his work as Head Coach for the multiple champion winning Charlotte Amalie High School’s Girls’ Basketball Team and his contribution as a member of the Virgin Islands Men’s National Basketball Team by naming the existing and any subsequent gymnasium at the Charlotte Amalie High School, “The Myron “MC” Corbett and Arthur “Gutu” Solomon Gymnasium” PROPOSED BY: Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory WHEREAS, Arthur Solomon was born on May 21st, 1951 on the island of St. Kitts; and 1 WHEREAS, Arthur Solomon was affectionately known as “Gutu” or “Coach Solomon”; 2 and 3 WHEREAS, Arthur Solomon grew up in the Oswald Harris Court community with his 4 family and as the third eldest of eight children; Hiram Solomon, Winston Solomon, Jennifer 5 Solomon, Sylvester Charles, George Corbett, Janice Corbett, and Myron Corbitt; and 6 WHEREAS, Arthur Solomon enjoyed playing basketball with his brothers; Winston 7 “Brother” Solomon and Sylvester “Sir Charles” Charles; and 8 WHEREAS, he developed exceptional skills at the sport of basketball which earned him 9 a scholarship at the University of Texas El Paso to play the sport; and 10 WHEREAS, he transferred to Morgan State University to complete his undergraduate 11 degree and then returned home to St. Thomas; and 12 2 WHEREAS, he was a member of the Virgin Islands Men’s National Basketball Team; 1 and 2 WHEREAS, Arthur Solomon as a member of the Virgin Islands National Basketball 3 Team played many games against professional basketball teams from the island of Puerto Rico 4 and his excellent play resulted in him being signed to a professional basketball contract with 5 the Brujos de Guayama where he played for at least one season under the tutelage of Jerry 6 Brown the renown coach of the Philadelphia 76ers; and 7 WHEREAS, he last played with the Virgin Islands Men’s National Team in 1982 in 8 Havana, Cuba; and 9 WHEREAS, his contributions to basketball continued with his later work as the head 10 coach for the girls’ basketball team at Charlotte Amalie High School; and 11 WHEREAS, his excellent work as the head coach of the Charlotte Amalie High School’s 12 Girls’ Basketball Team resulted in numerous won championships for the school; and 13 WHEREAS, Coach Solomon’s commitment to his players extended far beyond the 14 court, as he instilled the values of discipline, responsibility, and perseverance, guiding them 15 towards educational opportunities and fulfilling their dreams; and 16 WHEREAS, Coach Solomon served as Chair of the Charlotte Amalie High School 17 Physical Education Department; and 18 WHEREAS, Coach Solomon advocated for improved resources, recognition and pay 19 increases for high school and junior high school coaches across the territory; and 20 WHEREAS, Coach Solomon in 2001 launched a campaign to have a new gymnasium 21 built at the Charlotte Amalie High School, coordinating a meeting with top governmental 22 officials to include then Commissioner of Education Ruby Simmonds and Delegate to 23 Congress Donna Christian Christensen; and 24 3 WHEREAS, Coach Solomon's unwavering integrity, generous spirit, and unwavering 1 dedication to youth development earned him the respect and admiration of countless players, 2 colleagues, and community members; 3 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 4 SECTION 1. The Legislature of the Virgin Islands, on behalf of the people of the Virgin 5 Islands, honors and commends Coach Arthur Solomon for his tireless service and contributions 6 to the Virgin Islands community through his athletic work. 7 SECTION 2. The President of the Legislature, or the President’s designee, shall have a 8 perma plaque copy of this Resolution prepared and presented to Arthur Solomon at the 9 appropriate ceremony. 10 SECTION 3. The gymnasium, existing and any subsequent gymnasium at the Charlotte 11 Amalie High School shall be named “The Myron “MC” Corbett and Arthur “Gutu” Solomon 12 Gymnasium” and an appropriate plaque with their names shall be erected in the gymnasium 13 along with a permanent plaque of their commendation. The sum of $10,000 is appropriated 14 from the School Construction and Maintenance Fund to the Bureau of School Construction and 15 Maintenance for this purpose. The funds remain until expended. 16 BILL SUMMARY 17 An Act honoring and commending Arthur Solomon for his work as Head Coach for the 18 multiple champion winning Charlotte Amalie High School’s Girls’ Basketball Team and his 19 contribution as a member of the Virgin Islands Men’s National Basketball Team and names 20 the existing gymnasium and any subsequent at the Charlotte Amalie High School the Myron 21 “MC” Corbitt and Arthur “Gutu” Solomon Gymnasium” and an appropriate plaque with their 22 names must be erected in the gymnasium along with a permanent plaque. 23 BR23-0860/October 9, 2024/AA 24