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H. R. No. 41 *HR43/R2099* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Bell (65th)
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 41
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. JOHN T. GRANT, JR., AS THE 1
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CRICKET CELEBRATION BOWL, AS A HIGHLY 2
RESPECTED BUSINESS LEADER IN ATLANTA AND AS ONE OF THE MOST 3
INFLUENTIAL FIGURES IN BLACK COLLEGE ATHLETICS. 4
WHEREAS, Mr. John T. Grant, Jr., the Executive Director of 5
the Cricket Celebration Bowl and the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff, 6
is an exemplary leader whose incredible work ethic and vision has 7
catapulted him into being one of the most influential figures in 8
Black college athletics, since joining ESPN Events in August 2015; 9
and 10
WHEREAS, since earning the title of executive director, Mr. 11
Grant has been steadfast in his commitment to excellence and has 12
grown the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff into a marquee annual event 13
between college football programs from the Mid-Eastern Athletic 14
and Southwestern Athletic conferences while also building the 15
Cricket Celebration Bowl into the crown jewel of Historically 16
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) football with champions of 17
the MEAC and SWAC playing at Mercedes Benz Stadium each December 18
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in a nationally-televised ABC broadcast for the unofficial Black 19
college football national championship; and 20
WHEREAS, his unmatched execution of both events has helped to 21
grow the national exposure of HBCU football and earn him the 22
distinction of being named as one of the 20 Most Influential Black 23
Figures in College Football by Sports Illustrated in 2023; and 24
WHEREAS, he served as an elected member of the board until 25
his selection as Chief Executive Officer in 2001, and also served 26
as Chairman of the Atlanta Football Classic, the organization's 27
largest fundraiser from 1999 through 2001, and in true Grant 28
leadership fashion, the Atlanta Football Classic flourished 29
setting record attendance and revenue levels each year and growing 30
into one of the top three recurring sporting events in the state; 31
and 32
WHEREAS, with blood, sweat and tears, Mr. Grant has toiled in 33
the Atlanta market for more than three decades in various 34
prestigious positions including Chief Executive Officer of 100 35
Black Men of Atlanta, an organization that provides support and 36
improves the quality of life for African Americans, particularly 37
youth, through educational and economic opportunities in the 38
Atlanta community; and 39
WHEREAS, as evidence of his tenacity, just four years after 40
moving to Atlanta in 1988, Mr. Grant became the youngest member to 41
join the 100 Black Men of Atlanta at the age of 30, and was voted 42
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the organization's Man of the Year in 1989, after leading the 43
organization's flagship program, Project Success; and 44
WHEREAS, Mr. Grant's achievements have been recognized with 45
numerous honors and awards, including the Atlanta Business 46
Chronicle as one of the 100 Most Influential Atlantans, 100 Most 47
Influential in Hospitality, 50 Most Influential Nonprofit Leaders, 48
50 Most Influential Leaders in Sports, and Who's Who in Sports 49
(2016), the 2015 Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame, Atlanta's 2016 50
Men of the Year by Atlanta Tribune Magazine, the Atlanta 51
Friendship Initiative, a nonprofit aimed at building relationships 52
among Atlanta leaders to eliminate racism that he co-founded in 53
2016, and a recipient of Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2022 54
Visionary Award; and 55
WHEREAS, he currently serves on several boards including the 56
Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Atlanta Sports Council, 57
and the Executive Committee of the National Wildlife Federation; 58
and 59
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to 60
commend business leaders who raise the bar of economic development 61
in a manner that benefits their community as well as the nation as 62
a whole: 63
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 64
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 65
commend Mr. John T. Grant, Jr., for his many years of exemplary 66
leadership as Executive Director of the Cricket Celebration Bowl 67
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ST: John T. Grant, Jr.; commend visionary
leadership as Executive Director of the Cricket
Celebration Bowl and the MEAC/SWAC.
and the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff, and wish him many more years 68
of continued success. 69
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 70
furnished to Mr. John T. Grant, Jr., and to the members of the 71
Capitol Press Corps. 72