S5934 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 30, 2020 next time?’’ he asked. Like the marine ‘‘Magic.’’ He did things in the NFL On November 10, 1968, the Bears faced he was, he remained focused and dis- that had not been seen before, and few the 49ers again, and Sayers took a toss ciplined to the end. have come close to matching decades run play like he had done so many He was proud and optimistic that a later. times. The 49ers defensive player put part of Jackson Park would be home to Gale famously said that all he needed his shoulder into Sayers’ knee, and it the new Obama Presidential Library. was 18 inches of daylight before he bent sideways. Sayers needed to be Not only would the library bring new would change a game’s dynamic. He carted off the field. His knee would investment and opportunities to the was an unmatched running back, a star never be the same. The rehabilitation South Side, it would remind the young receiver, and his kick returning program was difficult, but with Pic- people, especially the Black and Brown records remain to this day. But with colo’s encouragement, Sayers was able children, who live there about what is everything with Gale, there was never to return the following year. possible for them. enough time. His legendary career was Gale returned to playing in 1969, In a 2015 column, Rev. Finney wrote: cut short by injury. earning the NFL Comeback Player of ‘‘The young among us today, many of He passed away recently, and today, the Year, but Piccolo became ill. Pic- them, will grow up believing anyone we pay our respect to an extraordinary colo was coughing for weeks, and he can become president, regardless of life. was diagnosed with embryonic cell car- race. But some of us can remember Gale Eugene Sayers was born in cinoma. when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Wichita, KS, in 1943. His father was a He underwent surgery, but the dis- Brown vs. Board of Education that sep- mechanic and a car polisher, and his ease had spread to other organs. In arate was not equal; some are old mother was a homemaker. His family May, Gale earned the George S. Halas enough to have marched on Wash- moved to Omaha, NE, in the early fif- Award, an award recognizing the ington. Those events signaled the end ties, and Gale had his chance to play league’s most courageous player. In his of legal segregation in this country. sports for the first time there. At the speech for the award, Gale dedicated it But we never dreamed we would see a age of 13, he was playing kids who were to Brian Piccolo. Piccolo died on June man of African heritage elected presi- 19 and 20 years old. Gale learned early 16, 1970, at the age of 26. Gale was a dent—not in our lifetimes.’’ The South on that he didn’t want to be tackled by pallbearer at the funeral. The chapter Side, the community that was home to larger people, so he made sure he on their friendship in Gale’s autobiog- Harold Washington, Richard Wright, wasn’t. In high school, he was not only raphy, ‘‘I Am Third,’’ is the basis of the Mahalia Jackson, and many other pio- a star running back, but he was also a 1971 movie ‘‘Brian’s Song,’’ the most- neers for racial justice, was the right track star. His record in long jump watched TV movie in history at the home, he said, for the President stood for 44 years. time. Obama’s library. Dozens of colleges offered Gale schol- In 1971, Gale suffered another knee Loretta and I offer our condolences arships, but he chose Kansas Univer- injury, and it was never right again. He to Rev. Finney’s many friends, col- sity because he liked the coach and retired in 1972 at the age of 29. It is a leagues, students, and especially to his that it was relatively close to home. testament to the extraordinary talent family: his son Leon III, his daughter There, he was dubbed the Kansas of Gale Sayers, only playing 68 games, Kristian Finney-Cooke, his son-in-law Comet. He was the first player in that in 1977, he was Ge youngest player Dr. Gerald Cooke, and his three grand- NCAA Division 1A history to record a ever to be voted into the NFL Hall of children. 99-yard run when he broke loose Fame at the age of 34. His statistics Several years ago, McCormick Theo- against the University of Nebraska in still remain competitive and as records logical Seminary held a gathering to 1963. His two-time All-American honors decades later. honor Rev. Finney. The occasion was led to the Bears picking him as the No. After his NFL career, Gale returned the 20th anniversary of the program he 4 overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft. to the University of Kansas as an as- had founded to train African-American Gale Sayers’ NFL career began like sistant athletic director and student. ministers. Graduates of the program, lightning. He returned a punt 77 yards He completed his bachelor’s degree in including many community leaders, in his first preseason game, returned a physical education in 1975 and received spoke of the profound influence Rev. kickoff 93 yards, and threw a touch- a master’s degree in educational ad- Finney had had on their lives. When it down pass with his nondominant hand. ministration in 1977. He was the ath- came time for him to speak, Rev. For the season, he led the league in all- letic director at Southern Illinois Uni- Finney implored them to always re- purpose yards and set the league record versity until 1981. Gale also supported member to put the mission of the Gos- at the time of 22 touchdowns, earning the Cradle, a Chicago-area adoption pel before their own egos. He recited the rookie of the year award. agency that launched the Ardythe and one of his favorite Bible passages; the Wrigley Field is famously the home Gale Sayers Center for African Amer- Gospel of Luke, chapter 4, verse 18: of the Chicago Cubs, but the greatest ican Adoption in 1999. In 2007, Gale tes- ‘‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, be- performance on that field was by Gale tified in Congress along with several cause he has anointed me to proclaim Sayers. The Chicago Bears played there other players that the NFL needed to good news to the poor. He has sent me from 1921 to 1970. In December 1965, improve its disability benefits system to proclaim freedom for the prisoners Wrigley Field’s playing surface was for retired players. and recovery of sight for the blind, to terrible. Players of both the Chicago Sayers is survived by his wife set the oppressed free.’’ Bears and San Francisco 49ers were Ardythe Elaine Bullard, his brothers Leon Finney remained true to his struggling to keep their footing in the Roger and Ron, his sons Timothy and mission. Martin Luther King and C.T. rain, but Gale wasn’t one of them. He Scott, his daughter Gale Lynne, and Vivian helped sketch a vision for a new scored six touchdowns that day. He his stepsons Guy, Gaylon, and Gary. Chicago, but Leon Finney worked for might have scored seven or eight, but f more than 50 years to make that bet- with a lopsided score, Bears Coach TRIBUTE TO MARK GUETHLE ter, fairer Chicago a reality. The good George Halas sat him down. The 49ers he achieved will benefit our city, our went on to form a special defense just Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, Mark State, and our Nation for years to for Gale Sayers. Guethle probably isn’t the sort of per- come. Sayers had many brilliant games, but son you picture when you hear the f one of the revolutionary moments his word ‘‘feminist.’’ Mark is a big guy: 6- life was off the field when he was room- foot-1, strong and muscular. It is easy REMEMBERING GALE SAYERS mates with fullback Brian Piccolo. to imagine him as the star linebacker Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, when Sayers and Piccolo were the NFL’s he was in high school. He spent decades Chicago Bears football great Gale Say- first interracial roommate duo. When as a labor leader in the building trades, ers was on the field, you knew some- many lines were drawn between Black one of the toughest, most manhood- thing extraordinary would happen. and White players, Sayers and Piccolo driven segments of the American labor The press labeled him the ‘‘Kansas set a new path for the league. They be- movement. But Mark Guethle has Comet.’’ His teammates called him came best friends. worked harder to help good women get

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