E802 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 19, 2007 Therefore, Mr. Beasley, I congratulate you tor Paul Kelly called Bob, ‘‘The greatest ath- teers his time as part of the Passaic County on a long productive and beneficial life, I also lete he ever coached—bar none,’’ and ‘‘a nat- Coaches Association, the Old Timers Associa- commend you and your family for your active ural.’’ Bob was named to the All State teams tion of Greater Paterson, and The Do-Good civic and community involvement. It has been in all three sports. His record has stood the House. a pleasure to personally know you and your test of time; in 2000 he was named a Passaic What Bob is proudest of is his strong moral family and to have had you as part of my life. County ‘‘Player of the Century’’ in football by and ethical standards, which led his coaches I thank you Madam Speaker. the Bergen Record and Herald News. to nickname him ‘‘The Monsignor.’’ Sports- f Bob caught the attention of some of our manship has always been his first priority for area’s most legendary coaches, Al Yaskiw and his players, coaches, and the fans. This effort KURT VONNEGUT, JR.’S CONTRIBU- Manlio Boverini of Passaic, Arthur Argauer of is shown by the many times the NJSIAA has TION TO AMERICAN LITERATURE Garfield, and Paul Kelly of Pope Pius XII. given Kennedy its ‘‘Sportsmanship Award,’’ They mentored him, and helped him earn nu- and the NNJIL Sportsmanship banners they HON. DAVID LOEBSACK merous football scholarships. He accepted a have earned. Always important to Bob has OF IOWA full football scholarship to the University of Vir- been his family; he and Florence celebrated IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ginia, where he played offensive center and their 52nd anniversary this month. His daugh- defensive linebacker. He continued to thrive, ter lives nearby with her husband Jim Giblin Thursday, April 19, 2007 being part of a defense that in 1952 was num- and their two children. His grandson James is Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I rise ber one in the Nation. In 1954, he returned to a sophomore at The College of today to speak about Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and to Passaic to coach football at Passaic High. and his granddaughter Kristen is a senior at extend my condolences to his family on his Later that year, he completed R.O.T.C. and Wayne Valley High School. passing. was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the The job of a Congressman in- While teaching at the Iowa Writers’ Work- U.S. Army. He was sent to Fort Knox, KY for volves much that is rewarding, yet nothing shop, which I am honored to represent in training in the Armor Division, and assigned to compares to working with and recognizing the Iowa’s Second District, Mr. Vonnegut received serve in Germany. Bob married his wife, Flor- efforts of dedicated public servants like Bob. the Guggenheim Scholarship to return to ence, on April 17, 1955, and they moved to- Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our col- Dresden, Germany and begin work on the gether to Wieseck, Germany. While there, leagues, the students of the Paterson Schools, novel that would eventually come to be known their daughter, Karen, was born in Frankfurt, the City of Paterson, the State of New Jersey, as Slaughterhouse Five. Mr. Vonnegut taught Germany. Bob’s family and friends, and me in recog- at the Workshop from 1965–1967, and Iowa In 1956, Bob returned from Germany and nizing Bob Gut’s outstanding service to his mourns the loss of one of America’s finest began his professional career teaching phys- community. writers and one of the many fine writers who ical education at School 21 in Paterson. Dur- f have helped to carry on the tradition of excep- ing his first year of teaching, he was trans- IN HONOR OF PETER SHUGERT tional writing in Iowa. ferred to Central High where he taught Kurt Vonnegut was a writer capable of cap- science and was the school’s first track coach. turing the imagination of not only his genera- In 1965, Central closed, and Bob moved to HON. OF NEW JERSEY tion, but of America’s youth for generations to the new John F. Kennedy High School. While IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES come. His works examine the moral compass teaching at Kennedy, Bob coached many of America, and his often hilarious satirization teams. He became the head coach of golf, Thursday, April 19, 2007 of the culture of our time has earned him the track and tennis and was an assistant to many Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor rightful reputation of America’s most cele- great football coaches like Nelson Graham, of Peter Shugert, Chief Public Affairs Officer of brated satirist since Mark Twain. Yet he was Aubrey Lewis, Joe Biscayan, Bob Smith, and the Army Corps of Engineers, who is about to also a humanist who not only examined some Jim Bradshaw. In 1960–65, he was head foot- retire after more than two decades of dedi- of the most defining moments in our history— ball coach at Pope Pius XII while teaching at cated service. Mr. Shugert has worked tire- most famously World War II in Slaughterhouse Kennedy. In 1966 he returned to the assistant lessly, not only to keep area residents in- Five—but also, and in spite of the violence he coach role at Kennedy, and in 1974 became formed of vital Corps operations, but he has had seen as a prisoner of war, concluded that the Knights head coach. In 1974 the football also gone above and beyond the call of duty human kindness is alive and well. His con- team had its first undefeated season, going 9– by becoming a treasured liaison during emer- tributions to American culture are immense 0. Importantly, his team never lost a Thanks- gencies between government agencies and and will not soon be forgotten. giving game to Eastside, and shut the Ghosts the people of the New York Metropolitan re- Thank you, Mr. Vonnegut, for your contribu- out in four of the six games. gion. tion to American literature. In 1979, Bob became the Athletic Director at Mr. Shugert, who earned a reputation as a f Kennedy High, which under his leadership in highly credible spokesperson and media rep- the 1980s and 90s, became known as ‘‘Cham- resentative for the , began TRIBUTE TO ROBERT E. GUT pionship High.’’ The Boys Basketball team his professional career in the military. His won four County titles in a row, and a sec- service in the Vietnam War won him the Na- HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR. tional title; the Girls team won five straight tional Defense Service Medal, the Army Com- OF NEW JERSEY county titles and the Tournament of Cham- mendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES pions. Championships, League and Sectional and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. titles were also won by the Track, Cross In 1977, Mr. Shugert became Public Affairs Thursday, April 19, 2007 Country, Soccer, Baseball and Football teams. Specialist for the Military Traffic Management Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would As Athletic Director, Mr. Gut has organized the Command in Virginia, and in 1982, made im- like to call to your attention the deeds of a annual John F. Kennedy All Sports Awards portant contributions to the Office of the Chief person I am proud to represent, Mr. Robert E. Dinner, and he was involved in the creation of of the Army Reserves, where he developed Gut, who will be recognized on Thursday, April the Central-Kennedy Athletic Hall of Fame. products to increase public awareness. 19, 2007 on the occasion of his retirement, for Bob’s professionalism has extended beyond In his 20 years as Chief of Public Affairs for his dedication to education and scholastic Passaic County. He has long been a high the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District of sports. school referee and umpire. He formerly served New York Division, Mr. Shugert developed Bob was born in 1932 to Antonina and as President of the Tri-County Basketball Offi- and maintained excellent media relations that Frank Gut. He and siblings Nellie, Stanley and cials Association, which held tournaments for ensured the best possible image for the Army Eugene grew up in the City of Passaic until freshman and JV teams from 32 schools. He Corps of Engineers. During his service, Mr. the family purchased a home and moved to has served for the past 28 years as the Chair- Shugert faced the tragedy of the 9/11 terror Garfield. Bob attended Holy Rosary Elemen- person of Bowling in the Northern New Jersey attacks and worked around the clock to keep tary and Pope Pius XII High School in Pas- Interscholastic League. He has served for 20 the public informed. His dedication earned him saic, where his talents began to shine. He years on the Advisory Board and Eligibility the Locke L. Mouton Award for Excellence in earned varsity letters in three sports each year Committee of the NJSIAA, the governing body Public Affairs, the Crisis Communications and was captain of the baseball and basket- of high school sports in New Jersey, and has Award, the Superior Civilian Service Medal, ball teams and co-captain of the football team. been the chairperson of the Eligibility Com- and the Civilian Award for Humanitarian Serv- Upon his retirement, coach and athletic direc- mittee for the past 10 years. He also volun- ice.

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