NO. R-500.  Senate concurrent resolution congratulating United States Olympic halfpipe snowboarding coach Robert "Bud" Keene on his coaching success.

(S.C.R.79)

By Senator Campbell,

Whereas, in 1983, Bud Keene abandoned the heat of the Virginia sun for the snow of Stowe’s mountainous slopes, and

Whereas, his move northward has proved extremely fortuitous for snowboarding in the United States, and

Whereas, once he arrived in Lamoille County, with the stated intention to ski, Bud Keene discovered the emerging sport of snowboarding and immediately recognized its potential for new and exciting moves on the slopes, and

Whereas, mastering the sport with ease, he quickly became a member of the snowboarding racing fraternity and was a regular entrant in competitions until he decided to switch to coaching in 1989, and

Whereas, from 1989 until 2002, Bud Keene was on the coaching staff of the Mount Mansfield Ski & Snowboarding Club, and

Whereas, his excellent coaching skills became well-known, and at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, he served as the coach for the snowboarding halfpipe forerunners, and

Whereas, based on his 2002 effort, Bud Keene was named head coach of the 2006 United States Winter Olympic halfpipe snowboarding team, and

Whereas, his success in Turin, Italy, was fantastic as his snowboarders captured two gold and two silver medals, and

Whereas, one of his gold medal winners was Vermont’s Hannah Teter, and

Whereas, with this accomplishment on the Olympic record books, Bud Keene is now returning home to Stowe where he will become the Mount Mansfield Ski Club’s head coach for freestyle snowboarding and skiing, and

Whereas, while he has wonderful memories of his Olympic experiences, Bud Keene is now looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Lucie, and two sons, Zach and Kyle, both of whom are snowboarders, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly congratulates U.S. Olympic halfpipe snowboarding coach Robert Keene on his coaching success, and wishes him the best of luck as he returns home to Stowe, and be it further

Resolved:  That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Bud Keene in Stowe.