November 2, 1999 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð SENATE S13621 message from the Chicago Bears. Many ex- with him. You could tell he was very The last point I will make is, toward ecutives knew what it said before they read genuine.'' the end of his life when announcing he it: Walter Payton, one of the best ever to Bears fans in Chicago felt the same way, faced this fatal illness, he made a plea which is why reaction to his death was swift play running back, had died. across America to take organ donation For the past several days it has been ru- and universal. mored that Payton had taken a turn for the ``He to me is ranked with Joe DiMaggio in seriously. He needed a liver transplant worse, so the league was braced for the news. baseballÐhe was the epitome of class,'' said at one point in his recuperation. It Still, the announcement that Payton had Hank Oettinger, a native of Chicago who was could have made a difference. It did not succumbed to bile-duct cancer at 45 rocked watching coverage of Payton's death at a bar happen. and deeply saddened the world of profes- on the city's North Side. ``The man was such I do not know the medical details as sional football. a gentleman, and he would show it on the to his passing, but Walter Payton's ``His attitude for life, you wanted to be football field.'' message in his final months is one we around him,'' said Mike Singletary, a close Several fans broke down crying yesterday as they called into Chicago television sports should take to heart as we remember friend who played with Payton from 1981 to him, not just from those fuzzy clips of 1987 on the Bears. Singletary read Scripture talk show and told of their thoughts on at Payton's side on the morning of his death. Payton. his NFL career but because he re- Asked what made Payton special, Ditka ``He was the kind of individual if you were minded us, even as he was facing his said: ``It would have to be being Walter down he would not let you stay down,'' Sin- last great game in life, that each and Payton. He was so good for the team. He was gletary said. every one of us has the opportunity to the biggest practical joker and he kept ev- Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said the eryone loose. And he led by example on the pass the ball to someone who can carry N.F.L. family was devastated by the loss of field. He was the complete player. He did ev- it forward in organ donation, and the Payton. Tagliabue called him ``one of the erything. He was the greatest runner, but he Nation's commitment to that cause greatest players in the history of the sport.'' was also probably the best looking back you would be a great tribute to him. ``The tremendous grace and dignity he dis- ever saw.'' played in his final months reminded us again I yield the floor. why `Sweetness' was the perfect nickname The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- f for Watler Payton,'' he said in a statement. ator from Illinois. THE DEATH OF WALTER PAYTON In his 13 seasons with Chicago, Payton Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I thank rushed for 16,726 yards on 3,838 carries, still my colleagues from the State of Mis- Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. President, I both N.F.L. records. One of Payton's most sissippi who are justifiably proud of rise today to express my sadness at the impressive feats was that he played in 189 of Walter Payton. His home State of Mis- news of the death of one of football's 190 games from 1975, his first season, until sissippi can look to Walter Payton greatest stars ever, Chicago's own Wal- his retirement in 1987. For someone with ter Payton. Payton's style to participate and dominate with great pride. There is a great deal of sadness in my home State of Illinois, Walter Payton was a hero, a leader, in that many gamesÐhe enjoyed plowing and a role model both on and off the into defenders and rarely ran out of bounds particularly in the city of Chicago, to avoid a tackleÐis remarkable. with the passing of Walter Payton at field. For 13 years, he thrilled Chicago ``He is the best football player I've ever the age of 45. Bears' fans as the NFL's all-time lead- seen,'' said Saints Coach Mike Ditka, who Later today, I will enter into the ing rusherÐperhaps one of the greatest coached Payton for six seasons with Chicago. RECORD a statement of tribute to Mr. running backs ever to play the game of Ditka added: ``At all positions, he's the Payton, but I did not want to miss this football. After retiring from profes- best I've ever seen. There are better runners opportunity this morning to mention sional football in 1987, Payton contin- than Walter, but he's the best football player several things about what Walter ued to touch the lives of Chicagoans as I ever saw. To me, that's the ultimate an entrepreneur and a community lead- compliment.'' Payton meant to Chicago and Illinois. What always amazed Payton's opponents He was more than a Hall of Fame er. was his combination of grace and power. football player. He ran for a record Walter Payton's historic career Payton once ran over half dozen players 16,726 yards in a 13-year career, one of began at Jackson State University, from the Kansas City Chiefs, and on more those years shortened by a strike, and where he set a college football record than one occasion he sprinted by speedy de- yet he established a record which prob- for points scored. The first choice in fensive backs. ably will be difficult to challenge or the 1975 NFL draft, PaytonÐor ``Sweet- It did not take long for the N.F.L. to see surpass at any time in the near future. ness'' as he was known to Chicago that Payton was special. In 1977, his third Bears fansÐbecame the NFL's all-time 1 The one thing that was most amazing season, Payton, standing 5 feet 10 ¤2 inches leader in running and in combined net and weighing 204 pounds, was voted the about Walter Payton was not the fact league's most valuable player after one of he was such a great rusher, with his yards and scored 110 touchdowns during the best rushing seasons in league history. hand on the football and making moves his career with the Bears. He made the He ran for 1,852 yards and 14 touchdowns. His which no one could understand how he Pro Bowl nine times and was named 5.5 yard a carry that season was a career best pulled off, but after being tackled and the league's Most Valuable Player and against Minnesota that season he ran for down on the ground, hit as hard as twice, in 1977 and 1985. In 1977, Payton 275 yards, a single-game record that still could be, he would reach over and pull rushed for a career-high 1,852 yards and stands. up the tackler and help him back on carried the Bears to the playoffs for ``I remember always watching him and his feet. the first time since 1963. He broke Jim thinking, `How did he just make that run?' '' Brown's long-standing record in 1984 to Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi said. He was always a sportsman, always a ``He was just a great player. gentleman, always someone you could become the league's all-time leading Accorsi echoed the sentiments of others admire, not just for athletic prowess rusher, and finished his career with a that Payton may not have had the natural but for the fact he was a good human record 16,726 total rushing yards. In gift of running back Barry Sanders or the being. 1985±86, Walter Payton led the Bears to athleticism of Jim Brown, but that he made I had the good fortune this last an unforgettable 15±1 season and Super the most of what he had. Fourth of July to meet his wife and Bowl victoryÐthe first and only Super ``I think Jim Brown is in a class by him- son. They are equally fine people. His Bowl win in Bears' history. Walter self,'' Accorsi said. ``And then there are son, late in his high school career, in Payton was inducted into the Pro other great players right behind him like Walter Payton.'' his junior year, decided to try out for Football Hall of Fame in 1993, and was Payton was known as much for his kind- football. The apple does not fall far selected this year as the Greatest All- ness off the field as his prowess on it. He was from the tree; he became a standout at Time NFL Player by more than 200 involved with a number of charities during Saint Viator in the Chicago suburb of players from the NFL Draft Class of and after his N.F.L. career, and although he Arlington Heights and now is playing 1999. valued his privacy he was known for his at the University of Miami. I am sure More important, Walter Payton kindness to people in the league whom he did he will have a good career of his own. matched his accomplishments on the not know.