California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 63

Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Atkins, Brough, Chávez, Dahle, Dodd, Gonzalez, Jones, Lackey, Waldron, and Weber)

(Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Bates, Block, and Hueso)

May 5, 2015

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 63—Relative to the Tony Gwynn Memorial Highway.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 63, as introduced, Maienschein. Tony Gwynn Memorial Highway.

This measure would designate the portion of Interstate 15 from Pomerado Road to Scripps Poway Parkway/Mercy Road in the County of San Diego as the Tony Gwynn Memorial Highway. The measure would also request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

Fiscal committee: yes.

WHEREAS, The greatest San Diego Padre of them all and one
of the greatest hitters in the history of Major League Baseball,
Tony Gwynn was the first ever unanimous selection to the Padres
Hall of Fame upon his retirement in 2001 and was inducted into
the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2007; and

WHEREAS, Tony Gwynn was named the head baseball coach
at San Diego State in September 2001, succeeding the head coach
for whom he played for three years during his collegiate baseball
career. In 20 seasons (1982-2001), the man who will be forever
known as “Mr. Padre” won a National League record-tying eight
batting titles and was selected to 16 All-Star teams. The San Diego
Padres retired his number 19 jersey in September 2004; and

WHEREAS, A native of Long Beach, Tony Gwynn attended
Long Beach Poly High School before arriving at San Diego State
in 1977 as a highly recruited basketball point guard. After not
playing baseball during his freshman year in order to concentrate
on basketball, Tony Gwynn was given the chance to play baseball
in 1979. Tony Gwynn became a two-time All-American outfielder
and led the Aztecs in hitting in each of his final two seasons. Tony
Gwynn was also a point guard for the Aztec men’s basketball team
for four seasons and was named to the All-Western Athletic
Conference team twice; and

WHEREAS, On June 10, 1981, Tony Gwynn was drafted by
both the San Diego Padres in the third round of the Major League
Baseball draft, and by the San Diego Clippers in the 10th round
of the National Basketball Association draft. After signing with
the San Diego Padres, Tony Gwynn made his major league debut
on July 19, 1982. He retired with a .338 career batting average and
3,141 hits in 2,400 games. The San Diego Padres career leader in
virtually every offensive category, Tony Gwynn retired at 17th on
the all-time hit list, 17th on the all-time doubles list, and eighth
on the all-time singles list, and his .338 career batting average is
22nd of all-time; and

WHEREAS, Tony Gwynn played on the first three San Diego
Padres Division Championship clubs (1984, 1996, and 1998) and
batted .371 in the club’s two World Series appearances. Tony
Gwynn’s list of honors off the field is just as impressive, as he
received the Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award in 1999
and was awarded the 1999 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. In 1995,
Tony Gwynn was presented the Branch Rickey Award as the top
community activist in Major League Baseball, as well as the
inaugural San Diego Padres Chairman’s Award. Tony Gwynn also
was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Tony Gwynn was also extremely committed to
community service in the San Diego area. With his wife, Dr. Alicia
Gwynn, Tony Gwynn established the Tony and Alicia Gwynn
Foundation, which provides programs and services to underserved
children in the areas of STEAM (science, technology, engineering,
arts, and math). Only the 17th player in history to spend his entire
career of 20 or more seasons with one club, Tony Gwynn’s
unwavering loyalty to the San Diego Padres and his undying
devotion to the San Diego community further cemented his
standing as “Mr. Padre” and one of the greatest ambassadors the
game of baseball has ever known; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
portion of Interstate 15 from Pomerado Road to Scripps Poway
Parkway/Mercy Road in the County of San Diego as the Tony
Gwynn Memorial Highway; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested
to determine the cost of appropriate signs consistent with the
signing requirements for the state highway system showing this
special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate
sources sufficient to cover that cost, to erect those signs; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author
for appropriate distribution.