April 8, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4015 television. The road to the Frozen Four Georgia Institute of Technology for the up and made structurally sound again, can be difficult and demanding. I say incredible performance of the Yellow and additional supports were erected to ‘‘can be difficult’’ only because—well, Jackets basketball team this year. reinforce the northbound span, which the Bulldogs made it look somewhat Georgia Tech proved itself to be a na- was reopened to traffic on Sunday easy. tional power as it won game after game night, March 28. The southbound lanes, In convincing fashion, the Bulldogs on its way to the NCAA final game. however, were beyond easy repair, and defeated Michigan State 5 to 0 and the I join all Georgians in admiration of engineers concluded that a temporary University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 3 the Yellow Jackets Head Coach Paul bridge would have to be erected to sup- to 1 to earn their first Frozen Four bid Hewitt, and his assistants Dean Keen- port traffic on the southbound span of since 1985. Against arch-rival Min- er, Willie Reese, and Cliff Warren for the highway. A temporary bridge was nesota-Twin Cities, the Bulldogs stuck building a program which proved itself supplied by Acrow Corp of Carlstadt, to a solid game plan, scored timely in national competition. I also want to NJ. It arrived in pieces and was assem- goals, and received phenomenal congratulate the players who showed bled by crews from the Connecticut De- goaltending from Isaac Reichmuth, leadership, poise and class as they partment of Transportation, DeMatteo who also should be recognized for his played great basketball against the Construction, and Brunalli Construc- stellar shut-out of Michigan State. best teams in the country. tion. By Sunday morning, the skeleton While absent 19 years from the Fro- Georgia Tech is an important edu- of the temporary bridge had been fully zen Four, the Bulldogs appearance in cational institution. Tech graduates assembled. A steel deck was then laid this year’s Frozen Four is no surprise. lead the way in every aspect of the on top of it and the surface was paved. After finishing the season 28–12–4, and business and professional community The southbound lanes of I–95 were re- placing second in the Western Colle- in America. Its graduates are in high opened on Wednesday morning at 3:30 giate Hockey Association, the Bulldogs demand around the world for their a.m. earned the second seed in the Midwest skills and abilities. Its sports programs Approximately 120,000 vehicles pass Regional of the NCAA tournament. are also very well regarded. over this span of I–95 every day, and of- They are coached by Scott Sandelin. The reputation of the Ramblin ficials initially estimated that the Coach Sandelin is a finalist for the Wreck’s athletic program can only highway would be closed for three to Spencer Penrose Award, the official grow higher after this appearance in four weeks. But the crews that per- award of the NCAA for Division 1 coach the NCAA tournament. When the sea- formed the work managed to re-open it of the year, and recently received In- son began, Georgia Tech was picked to in just five days. This accomplishment side-college-hockey’s award for Coach finish seventh in the nine-team Atlan- cannot be overstated. I rise today to of the Year. tic Coast Conference. Instead it made say thank you to the Connecticut DOT On the ice, the Bulldogs have been it to its first Final Four appearance employees, Federal DOT officials, con- led all year by Hobey Baker finalist since 1990 and its first title game ever. tractors and others who worked around Junior Lessard, who currently leads I salute the 2003–2004 Georgia Tech the clock to make it possible. Your the Nation in goals and scoring. basketball team for a great year. They service to our State is deeply appre- Lessard has also racked up two pres- have made all of Georgia proud. ciated, and we commend you for your tigious Player of the Year awards by excellent work. Inside-college-hockey and U.S. College f f Hockey Online. RE-OPENING I–95 IN CONNECTICUT On the blue line, the Bulldogs are led HONORING JACK SMITH Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I by first team WCHA all-conference se- rise today in praise of the exemplary Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to lection Beau Geisler, and as I men- efforts of the construction and mainte- express my sympathy over the loss of tioned before, Isaac Reichmuch, him- nance crews, engineers, and State and Jack Smith, distinguished Vietnam self a second team all conference selec- Federal transportation officials to veteran and former ABC News Cor- tion, has been unbeatable in the pipes quickly re-open Interstate 95 in Bridge- respondent. Jack Smith died on April 7 for the Bulldogs. port, Connecticut, last week after a at the age of 58 at a hospital in The Bulldog ice-hockey tradition Greenbrea, CA. He had been struggling runs deep. The program has placed over devastating fire destroyed a portion of the highway. On behalf of the people of with cancer for the past year. 34 of its student-athletes into the Na- Jack had a long and successful career Connecticut, I offer them my deepest tional Hockey League over the past 35 as a Washington-based reporter for thanks for the hard work—and team- years. Thanks to Bulldog legends such ABC News. He covered foreign wars, as Curt Giles, Pat Boutette, Brett Hull, work—that has restored a vital artery five presidential elections, and hosted Chris Marinucci, Derek Plante, and in our nation’s transportation system numerous shows and documentaries. Shjon Podein, Minnesota-Duluth is one faster than anyone thought possible. His thoughtful reporting and dedica- On Thursday evening, March 25, a car of the premier hockey schools in the tion to journalism ranks Jack Smith Nation and a source of deep pride for and a tanker truck collided while trav- high in the history of news reporters. Duluth and all of Minnesota. eling along I–95 South in Bridgeport. Jack was wounded during the 1965 These young men, 15 of whom are na- The tanker truck, carrying 12,000 gal- battle of Ia Drang Valley. He was deco- tive Minnesotans, are continuing this lons of home heating oil, tipped over rated with the Bronze Star and the tradition of excellence and deserve the and slid along the barriers before stop- Purple Heart for his bravery. His expe- recognition and excitement that is ac- ping and, minutes later, the truck’s riences in the Vietnam War prompted companying their trip to the Frozen contents ignited, sending flames 50 to him to speak and report extensively on Four. Charter buses of Minnesotans 60 feet into the air. Remarkably, no the war and its aftermath. He was a have made the long trek to Beantown one was killed or injured in the acci- man of great integrity who never fal- to cheer on their team and I, like dent, and within 20 minutes firefighters tered on his commitment to dem- them, look forward to a great match- had extinguished the blaze, but the onstrate accurately and honestly the up between the Bulldogs and the Uni- damage had been done. Both the exist- historic events of our time. versity of Denver tomorrow in Boston. ing southbound bridge and a new bridge Jack Smith leaves behind his wife, Congratulations to the University of that had just been built alongside of it Pamela Peffer; a son, Alexander Smith; Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs for what were severely damaged. two stepchildren, Aidan McTighe and has been a stellar season, and best I–95 in Connecticut—a traffic cor- Matthew McTighe; his mother, wishes on their ongoing quest for the ridor of national significance that Benedicte Smith; and a sister. Jack national championship. links New York City with Boston—was was the son of legendary reporter How- f immediately shut down in both direc- ard K. Smith. tions over a distance spanning several For his service to his country during GEORGIA TECH’S RAMBLIN WRECK exits. This caused major traffic prob- the Vietnam War and excellence in MAKES GEORGIA PROUD lems, especially for tractor-trailer journalism, I ask my colleagues to join Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I drivers. Engineers determined that the me and all Americans in honoring Jack want to extend my congratulations to northbound overpass could be shored Smith. VerDate Mar 15 2010 21:46 Jan 29, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\2004SENATE\S08AP4.REC S08AP4 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY.