Congressional Record—House H665
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February 9, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H665 legislators, has had a number of women inspire you to do things that maybe from his players every day of the week. Governors, and that the first woman you didn’t think you could do. He had Success with honor was what Coach appointed to the Supreme Court, San- the ability to get you to go beyond Paterno expected, whether his players dra Day O’Connor, is a proud Arizonan. being tired into being better. As a were performing in front of a hundred He would surely be proud to know of young guy growing up, he would come thousand fans in Beaver Stadium or Gabby Giffords, daughter of Arizona into our study halls and he would come taking an exam in a classroom. and one of this Nation’s enduring sym- into our halls, and I had the chance to As someone who played football bols of hope, who served this Nation’s go to Penn State many times to see through youth league all the way House of Representatives so ably. him as an assistant coach, and always through college, I fully appreciate the Over the past 100 years, Arizona has enjoyed the moments we had, and then special role that a football coach can been home to a number of colorful and go over to his house with Mrs. Paterno, play in the lives of his players. A coach transformative figures: Carl Hayden, and he would say to Mrs. Paterno, Hey, is, above all, a teacher, and one who Barry Goldwater, Mo Udall, and JOHN these guys are hungry. Can you get can build his players’ character and in- MCCAIN. them a sandwich? Can you get them still the values of hard work, persist- With so many unsuccessful Presi- something to eat? They were always so ence, and teamwork—lessons that last dential candidates, it’s often joked nice to us, and the kids were small a lifetime. Coach Paterno did just that. that Arizona is the only State where then. Football was the means by which he mothers don’t tell their children, Some So I can understand the sense of loss molded players into leaders and forever day you can grow up to be President. In that not only the Paterno family has transformed a university. He prepared fact, mothers get to tell their children but the State of Pennsylvania, and in his players to be winners in life, not something better: You have the privi- particular, Penn State University, be- just on Saturday afternoons. lege of being an Arizonan. cause Coach Paterno was part of the That is why when Joe Paterno passed One thing is certain. Because of the fabric of that which is Penn State. He away on January 22, Pennsylvania lost hard work and sacrifice of those who was the leaven that held Penn State a legendary football coach who gra- have gone before, Arizona’s next 100 together. He was the man that tran- ciously used the spotlight that he was years promise to be even better than scended not just football, because foot- given to help his players, Penn State the first because in Arizona, the beauty ball was only a very small part of our University, and our great Common- of the sunset in the evening is only life, but it was that game that taught wealth. eclipsed by the sunrise in the morning. us about life that was to come and the May he rest in peace. I yield back the balance of my time. adversity that you would face and the Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I f problems that you would have to solve, thank the gentleman for participating HONORING JOE PATERNO and the idea that, yeah, well, you may today and this remembering and cele- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under not have done it real well on that last brating. Mr. Speaker, in the times of my life the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- play. The only sin was not getting up I have had opportunity to reflect back uary 5, 2011, the gentleman from Penn- off the deck and getting ready for the on and think of as special times, there sylvania (Mr. THOMPSON) is recognized next play. is one time in particular when I was a for 52 minutes as the designee of the So I join my colleagues from Penn- senior in high school. I grew up in Cen- majority leader. sylvania, and there’s a deep sense of ter County. I went to Penn State, I’m GENERAL LEAVE loss for all of us in Pennsylvania, and a proud Penn State alumni. I grew up Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I especially all of those folks at Penn in the shadow of the Nittany Lion and ask unanimous consent that all Mem- State who have lost a true leader and a Joe Paterno. One of my most meaning- bers may have 5 legislative days within true icon—not just for college football ful memories having played high which to revise and extend their re- and not just for athletics, but for the school football was the day I got word marks and include extraneous material American life. that Coach Joe Paterno had asked for on the subject of my Special Order. So I am deeply indebted to Coach The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Paterno for what he taught us. I also game films to look at me as a prospect objection to the request of the gen- am grieving with the family and with for that great team. That was going tleman from Pennsylvania? the rest of the State of Pennsylvania well until he saw that as an offensive There was no objection. for the loss of a truly great American, guard I was less than 200 pounds. Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Joe Paterno. But today, I still treasure that, that Mr. Speaker, I rise today with col- Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I he looked at my performance and at leagues from Pennsylvania to recognize thank the gentleman for his comments, least saw something there. the accomplishments of Joe Paterno, for joining us and honoring and remem- Joe Paterno grew up in Brooklyn, the the longtime Penn State football coach bering a great individual in Joe descendant of Albanian and Italian im- who passed away last month. Paterno. migrants. He derived a toughness from Paterno’s accomplishments as a It’s now my honor to recognize Mr. that heritage, describing his father and teacher and a coach rank him among GERLACH, another colleague that I’ve Albania as a land of quiet, hardheaded the very best in the history of the had the privilege and honor to serve people. His toughness was seasoned by country. His accomplishments were with since coming to Congress. a deep appreciation of the classics. both on the field and on the campus. I yield to Congressman GERLACH. Virgil, which he read in the original I’m pleased today to be joined by a Mr. GERLACH. I appreciate this op- Latin, was a key source of inspiration number of my colleagues from Penn- portunity to join you here today. for Paterno. He wrote, ‘‘I’ll never for- sylvania and pleased to yield to the Mr. Speaker, I’m joining my col- get the majestic ring of the opening gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. leagues from Pennsylvania in recog- lines of ‘The Aeneid’: ‘Arma virumque KELLY). nizing Coach Joe Paterno and the leg- cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris,’’’ Mr. KELLY. I’m glad to be here with acy he forged during more than 60 which he translated as ‘‘Of arms and my colleagues from Pennsylvania. years at Penn State University. the man I sing.’’ My thoughts of Coach Paterno go Most major college football programs Paterno drew inspiration from way back to the time when I was a measure success solely on what hap- Virgil’s hero Aeneas. Of Aeneas he really young guy in Butler, Pennsyl- pens on a hundred-yard patch of grass wrote, ‘‘He yearns to be free of his tor- vania, and Coach Paterno at that time on Saturday afternoons in the fall. If menting duty, but he knows that his was an assistant coach for Rip Engle. you measured a career only in wins and duty is to others, to his men.’’ Coach Paterno would come into our losses, what Coach Paterno achieved is He attended Brown on a football high school, and he was very close historic: 409 times he walked off the scholarship, where he met and com- friends with my high school coach, Art field victorious, the most wins of any bated prejudice—prejudice from those Bernardi. coach in Division I college football. who thought that football players But the thing I remember most about However, what set Coach Paterno lacked the intellectual firepower of Coach Paterno, he had the ability to apart was that he demanded excellence other students, prejudice from those VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:31 Feb 10, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09FE7.033 H09FEPT1 rfrederick on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H666 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 9, 2012 who thought birth gave status instead children sent this to me. He said that, wasn’t very good at it. So Sue Paterno of personal excellence and hard work, over the years, Joe attended hundreds would basically give him books, and he prejudice based on religion. of dinners and functions, raising bil- would have to read the books and then As a player and later as coach, lions of dollars for Penn State, for the give her a book report.