E58 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 23, 2012 York and the Southern Tier. Additionally, it is COLLEGE RIVALRY GOOD FOR only defeated the University of Texas one time clear that ultimately consumers will bear the TEXAS in the four years he commanded before mov- burden of paying higher prices for goods they ing on to Alabama. buy in stores. HON. TED POE As A&M transitioned out of being solely a OF TEXAS military academy, their traditions against the While I understand making needed safety Longhorns were passed down from generation IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES improvements to our nation’s roads neces- to generation. The two universities fed off of sitates increasing tolls from time to time, I do Monday, January 23, 2012 each other’s student camaraderie by trying to not understand—nor has the Port Authority Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, ‘‘Texas out-do the other with war hymns, anthems, given—the justification for a rise of this mag- fight, Texas fight and it’s goodbye to A&M.’’ school pride, pep rallies and hand signs. Both nitude. Thus, we need the Department of The words of the Texas fight song rang loud schools even denounce the other in their Transportation to be able to review these toll for the last time this year at the annual duel school songs. structures, and others across the country, to between the University of Texas and Texas Legend has it that the UT mascot BEVO es- ensure taxpayer interests are being best A&M. tablished his name after Aggies branded the steer with a 13–0 score from the 1915 season. served. Consumers and businesses should The last match-up between the two Texas football powerhouses was a bittersweet ending After the branding, Texas officials tuned the not be forced to pay the price for mismanage- to a 117-year rivalry. Now, the eyes of Texas 13 into the letter B and added the E and V ment, and that is why I urge my colleagues to are upon the Aggies as they abandon the Big into the middle, creating the name BEVO— support the Commuter Protection Act. 12 for the alluring SEC. With that decision, one of the most recognized mascots in college ends one, if not the greatest football rivalries football. Modern Texas revisionists claim this f of all time. is all bunk. Who knows. The annual Turkey Day battle between the Even today, A&M has their hand in the well- RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE OF burnt orange and the maroon is not just a being of the beloved mascot. When BEVO be- VINCE PANVINI game played once a year; it’s not just another comes ill, Texas officials have to quietly trans- team on the schedule. This game makes or port him to the College Station campus—to breaks the season. It’s a rivalry in every sense A&M’s top ranked veterinarian program. They HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK of the word; a chance for bragging rights for see it as a top secret mission so as to not in- OF CALIFORNIA a whole year among family and friends. Neigh- voke the students to ‘‘defame’’ the legendary borhood kids that grow up playing with each steer. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES other become gridiron gladiators, fighting for Today, the rivalry between the students of Monday, January 23, 2012 the ultimate goal of beating the other. This each school is still alive. But there is no more football game divides households, friendships, football between the schools. The last game Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowl- and the state of Texas. has been played; the teams have left the field; edge and thank Vince Panvini for his decades This past Thanksgiving, a historic battle be- and the clock has ticked down to 0:00. In their of service on behalf of sheet metal workers lo- tween two Texas universities ran deep in the losing effort this year, the Aggie faithful sang cally, nationally and internationally. Panvini’s pulse of Texans who have watched year after the ‘‘ Aggie War Hymn’’ for the last time at the retirement from his position as Director of year as these two waged war. With their final UT-A&M game. ‘‘So it is goodbye to Texas Governmental Affairs for the Sheet Metal game, it’s happy trails to a Texas tradition that University, so long to the orange and the white. .’’ This may be so, but it ought not Workers’ International Association is a great I have grown up with, that my kids have grown to be. The people of State of Texas deserve loss to the community of sheet metal workers up with and one that I would love my to see these two great universities do their an- and to the labor community as a whole. grandkids to grow up with. The Longhorns walked out of Kyle field with nual Thanksgiving battle with the pigskin. Throughout his career, Panvini has proven a 27–25 victory and the bragging rights for at There is too much history and too much fight himself as a first-rate organizer and represent- least another 10 years (or until a non-con- left for these football teams to abolish a Texas ative of his union members. For close to 50 ference game becomes available). As the tradition. years, this second-generation sheet metal Aggies left their Austin counter-parts for what And that’s just the way it is. worker has been a member of Local Union 19 they believe are bigger and better fields in the f in Philadelphia. He won election as a Local 19 SEC, they ended a 117-year relationship with RECOGNIZING DON DOMINA FOR trustee and later to their Executive Board. He the sudden divorce. Maybe the Aggies were HIS NEARLY 35 YEARS OF SERV- rose to an appointment as Local Union Orga- tired of playing in the shadow of BEVO. After ICE TO THE CENTRAL CON- nizer, then was appointed—and later elect- all, Texas holds a 2–1 lead in overall wins. NECTICUT COOPERATIVE FARM- Not all people are glad about the end of this ed—as Business Representative for the Local. ERS ASSOCIATION era. Even some Texas citizens with no ties to After attending training at Harvard Trade either school have suggested the legislature School for International Labor Relations, he pass a law requiring the two state schools to HON. JOE COURTNEY OF CONNECTICUT was appointed as Director of Governmental play each other every year in football. Affairs for the Sheet Metal Workers’ Inter- The rivalry between UT and Texas A&M is IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES national Association in January 1994. beyond a Saturday football game. Here at Monday, January 23, 2012 His success, friends and coworkers have home, college football has become somewhat Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today said, is characterized by the fact that Panvini of a religion to many people—a deep-rooted to Congratulate Don Domina, General Man- was ‘‘born to do this work.’’ His love of the job passion between rival mascots and school col- ager of the Central Connecticut Cooperative combined with his unparalleled memory and ors clashing into hard-hitting victories. It’s the Farmers Association who is retiring after near- Junction Boys, the Tyler Rose, the last-minute ‘‘funny but stern’’ personality has won him ly 35 years of service to the people and busi- touchdown run by Vince Young in the Rose nesses of Connecticut. leagues of friends and allies. These attributes Bowl for the National Championship. Don Domina grew up on a farm in Vermont also won him great respect among peers, poli- This is beyond college football; it’s Texas where his family, including his six siblings, ticians, organizers, community leaders and football. Nowhere is it exemplified better than raised dairy cows. Life on the farm led to inter- union workers. between the two schools. ests in working with animals as a veterinarian, The labor community’s loss at Panvini’s re- It all started in the 19th century. Grover a passion he pursued as a youngster. As he tirement, however, will be his family’s gain—a Cleveland was president when on Friday, Oct. grew older, Don left his family farm to pursue noble tradeoff. With a return to Philadelphia, 19, 1894, the University of Texas and Texas work in construction, building silos around he’ll get quality time with family, his top pri- A&M University began their on-field feud. New England and New York. In the late ority. Panvini has a son, a daughter and four Texas A&M was a military academy until the 1960s, Don moved to Connecticut to do con- mid-60s. The Aggies’ record against the burnt grandchildren. On top of that, Panvini will have struction work and later became a milk truck orange suffered because of this, but this game driver for Moser’s, returning him to his dairy more time to cheer on his Philadelphia Eagles. was a must win among both schools. The roots. I thank Vince Panvini for his years of serv- Aggies hired legendary coach Bear Bryant as In November 1977, Don joined the staff of ice and wish him well in retirement. head coach and athletic director, but Bryant the Central Connecticut Cooperative Farmers VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:29 Jan 24, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A23JA8.017 E23JAPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS January 23, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E59 Associations a truck driver.