WHEREAS, during the weekend of March 12 and 13, 1971, the State of Delaware reverberated throughout from Claymont to Delmar and from Marydel to Lewes Beach as though rocked by an earthquake or an atomic explosion; and
WHEREAS, Governor Russell W. Peterson and the members of both Houses of the 126th General Assembly of the State of Delaware are fully aware that the aforesaid force was the vocal explosion engendered by the fans of the Milford High School Basketball Team as the team emerged victorious in the Fifth Annual Delaware State Basketball Tournament; and
WHEREAS, the calm, cool, and collected basketball "Buccaneers" of Milford High School, coached by the dynamic Dan McGinniss, amassed seventeen victories as opposed to one loss during the regular season; and
WHEREAS, the team that has become known as the "Mighty Mites" of Milford went on to win the Henlopen Conference championship game and then, with unbelievable poise and determination decisioned Gunning Bedford, Salesianum, Wilmington, and P. S. duPont High Schools in a victorious march to the State Championship; and
WHEREAS, the Milford High School squad became the first lower Delaware entry in the history of the tournament to finish "Number One" and thereby bestowing prestige of great proportion upon other downstate basketball teams; and
WHEREAS, in so attaining the pinnacle of Delaware high school basketball success, the young men of Milford and their vocal supporters displayed the very highest caliber of sportsmanship; and
WHEREAS, the Governor and members of both Houses of the 126th General Assembly wish to salute the victorious Milford "Buccaneers" (or "Farmers" as some upstate opponent partisans were wont to call them) and their coach for a fantastic achievement, thereby bringing honor and glory to the town of Milford.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Governor and the members of both Houses, particularly those in the Milford delegation —Representatives Lewis B. Harrington and Ralph R. Smith and Senators Frank R. Grier and George A. Robbins — extend warm congratulations to Coach Dan McGinniss of the Milford High School basketball team; to his assistant, Buck Starkey; to players Carlton Adams and John Waples, both of whom were named ,to the All-Tournament team; and to teammates Ron Allen, Bruce Hayes, Mike Johnson, Keith Heinold, John Lindale, Brett Warren, Jack Robinson, Charles Timmons, Gary Pearce, and Tom Murphy, for becoming the first Delaware State Basketball champions from below the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be forwarded to both coaches, to all the players, and to Mr. Glenn M. Moyer, principal of Milford High School and to Dr. Charles A. McLaughlin, superintendent of the Milford School District.