H1468 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 4, 2001 At 6 feet 10 inches tall, George Mikan country’s most celebrated and most ef- that would afflict one. But we would was the first big man to display the fective print and radio journalists, Mr. hope that he would put his memoirs to- agility, touch and skill to dominate Latrell ‘‘Lu’’ Palmer who is retiring gether and that he would spend the rest basketball games. He was called the and will be featured at a retirement of his life writing and putting in voice trunk of the NBA family tree and he celebration on April 14 at the Reverend some renditions of that ‘‘We shall see helped the fledgling league draw record Johnnie Coleman Complex, 119th and in ’83.’’ crowds in every city. Mikan’s mere Loomis in Chicago. f presence changed the rules of the game Lu Palmer was born in 1922 in New- ON BEHALF OF THE 24 CREW MEM- because he was so dominant. In fact, in port News, Virginia, and attended its BERS HELD BY THE CHINESE an effort to stop George Mikan, the schools there. He then went on to Vir- GOVERNMENT Mikan rule was invented which wid- ginia University and earned a bach- ened the lane underneath the basket. elor’s degree in 1942. Later on, in 1947, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a With Mikan in the middle, the Min- he earned a master’s degree from Syra- previous order of the House, the gen- neapolis Lakers won six NBA cham- cuse University and later on went to tleman from Washington (Mr. LARSEN) pionships in the late 1940s and early Iowa State University in 1955 where he is recognized for 5 minutes. 1950s, including five of the first eight completed the course work for a doc- Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. titles in the history of the NBA. On torate’s degree. Lu never wrote his dis- Speaker, today I rise on behalf of the 24 five separate occasions, George Mikan sertation so he ended up with what crew members held by the Chinese gov- led the NBA in scoring. George Mikan people called an ABCD, that is, all but ernment. These brave men and women is a charter member of the Naismith the dissertation degree. are based at the Naval Air Station Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Lu Palmer then went on to have an Whidbey on Whidbey Island in Oak the Professional Basketball Hall of outstanding career at the Chicago Harbor in my district in Washington Fame. He was chosen one of the NBA’s Daily Defender newspaper, the Chicago State. I first want to call on Beijing to re- 50 greatest players. Courier, the Chicago American, the turn our honorable service men and But, Mr. Speaker, George Mikan’s ac- Chicago Daily News, and then estab- women home. Four days is long complishments outside basketball are lished his own paper, the Black X Ex- enough. No, 4 days is too long. Our just as impressive and reflect perhaps press, which he ran for several years. service members need to be released even greater determination. A success- He also taught for 20 years, from 1970 to 1990 for the Association of American immediately. ful attorney, business owner and civic Second, I want to honor the families Colleges and Universities of the Mid- leader, George Mikan was the first of these crew members, both around west where he trained a large number commissioner of the American Basket- the country and in the Whidbey Island of students to really understand urban ball Association. In that position, he community of Oak Harbor where the life. Of course, Lu also worked at once again helped revolutionize the Naval Air Station is based. Their con- WBEE Radio and WVON Radio, was the game of basketball by implementing cern over the crew members is matched editorial director for Congressman the three-point shot and other exciting only by their strength and their brav- Ralph Metcalfe’s communication vehi- changes. George Mikan has also over- ery. come a great deal of difficulty in his cles and served as a public relations So not for my sake and not for the lifetime. Today, George is taking on a person for Michael Reese Hospital. He sake of anyone in this Chamber, Mr. very imposing opponent, the disease of established the Black Business Net- Speaker, but for the sake of the moth- diabetes. Again, George Mikan is show- work, Chicago Black United Commu- ers and the fathers, the sisters and the ing great courage and determination nities, CBUC, which he operated for brothers, the sons and the daughters and is a true inspiration to us all. several years, and BIPO, the Black and the wives, it is time for the Chi- The original Mr. Basketball con- Independent Political Organization. He nese government to return the crew tinues to make us proud. Today we sa- established Menhelco, a mental health members to their families. It is time lute him for his public service, leader- program for boys who were suffering for the Chinese government to return ship, inspiration and courage. Mr. from mental retardation which con- the plane to the United States. tinues to operate. Speaker, George Mikan is a great f American and a legendary basketball As much of a journalist as Lu was, he player. Please join me in honoring this was really noted more for his commu- CONGRATULATING UNIVERSITY OF outstanding Minnesotan for his many nity action, community involvement, ARIZONA WILDCATS ON THEIR contributions to the game of basket- and was called upon to speak in col- OUTSTANDING BASKETBALL ball and his many accomplishments off leges and universities and banquets all SEASON the court as well. George Mikan is over the country, as a matter of fact. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a truly deserving of this special congres- He generally could not keep up. Plus he previous order of the House, the gen- sional recognition. was very selective and did not just ac- tleman from Arizona (Mr. SHADEGG) is f cept any speaking engagement. It had recognized for 5 minutes. to be something that he called relevant Mr. SHADEGG. Mr. Speaker, I rise to TRIBUTE TO LU PALMER, CELE- and meaningful if he was to go. Lu was commend and pay tribute to the Uni- BRATED RADIO AND PRINT very actively involved in generating versity of Arizona Wildcats on their JOURNALIST outrage when Mark Clark and Fred outstanding basketball season. This is The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a Hampton were killed by the Chicago truly a special team which should be previous order of the House, the gen- police, and later on was probably the lauded for their courage and for their tleman from Illinois (Mr. DAVIS) is rec- single most effective voice in the elec- effort in the face of very, very difficult ognized for 5 minutes. tion of Harold Washington for mayor of circumstances, both on and off the Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I the city of Chicago because Lu had a court. would just add my voice to the acco- slogan and the slogan sort of said, ‘‘We As a U of A alum, I closely followed lades being given to George Mikan. He shall see in ’83,’’ meaning that that is their amazing story. The Wildcats’ vic- did his college basketball playing and when the election was going to take tory in entering the Final Four per- attended DePaul University, which is place. Lu was called the drumbeat of fectly captured their great season. In a in my congressional district. I can tell the African American community. Ev- rough and tumble fight, in a contest my friends from Minnesota that all of erybody listened to his radio and ev- that the Wall Street Journal described Chicago and Illinois are indeed proud erybody pretty much waited for WVON as ‘‘equal parts rugby and hoops, with of the accomplishments of George to come on in the evenings from 10 to a little WWF thrown in,’’ the Wildcats Mikan and the people at DePaul Uni- 12 so that they could listen to ‘‘On Tar- triumphed over a physically gifted Uni- versity salivate every time they hear get’’ and Lu Palmer. versity of Illinois squad. After the his name. I join your comments. Lu finally decided that it was time to game, Illinois point guard Frank Wil- Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor this hang them up. He is about 80 years old liams said, ‘‘We gave them our best evening to pay tribute to one of our with diabetes and all the other things punch and they survived it.’’