[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 235 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 235

  Celebrating the life and achievements of Lawrence Eugene ``Larry'' 
                                 Doby.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 26, 2003

Mr. Pascrell (for himself, Mr. Oxley, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Clay, Mr. 
Etheridge, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Ford, Mr. Frost, Mr. Holt, Mr. Jefferson, 
 Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Payne, Mr. Towns, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. McDermott, Mrs. 
Christensen, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Sabo, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Frank of 
Massachusetts, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Acevedo-Vila, Mr. Neal of Massachusetts, 
 Mr. Doyle, Mr. Capuano, and Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Celebrating the life and achievements of Lawrence Eugene ``Larry'' 
                                 Doby.

Whereas on December 12, 1923, Larry Doby was born in Camden, South Carolina and 
        moved to Paterson, New Jersey in 1938, where he became a standout 4 
        sport athlete at Paterson Eastside High School;
Whereas Larry Doby attended Long Island University on a basketball scholarship 
        before enlisting in the United States Navy;
Whereas in 1943, Larry Doby was the first African American to play professional 
        basketball for the Paterson Panthers, a member of the American 
        Basketball League;
Whereas after playing baseball in the Negro League for the Newark Eagles, Larry 
        Doby's contract was purchased by Bill Veeck of Major League Baseball's 
        Cleveland Indians, a member of the American League, on July 3, 1947;
Whereas on July 5, 1947, Larry Doby became the first African American to play 
        professional baseball in the American League;
Whereas Larry Doby played in the American League for 13 years, appearing in 
        1,533 games and batting .283, with 253 home runs and 969 runs batted in;
Whereas in 1948, Larry Doby was the first African American to win a World Series 
        and the first African American to hit a home run in the World Series;
Whereas Larry Doby was voted to play in 7 All Star games and led the American 
        League in home runs for two seasons;
Whereas in 1978, Larry Doby became the manager of the Chicago White Sox, only 
        the second African American manager of a Major League team;
Whereas Larry Doby was the Director of Community Relations for the National 
        Basketball Association's New Jersey Nets, where he was deeply involved 
        in a number of inner-city youth programs;
Whereas Larry Doby resided, was active in the community, and raised his family 
        in Montclair, New Jersey;
Whereas Larry Doby received honorary doctorate degrees from Princeton 
        University, Long Island University and Fairfield University; and
Whereas Larry Doby was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the House of Representative--
            (1) expresses profound sorrow on the death of Lawrence 
        Eugene ``Larry'' Doby, and extends condolences to his family;
            (2) expresses its deep appreciation to Larry Doby and his 
        family for the impact that he made in pioneering civil rights 
        by breaking down racial barriers in baseball and in America; 
        and
            (3) commends Larry Doby as a courageous leader, a role 
        model, and a paradigm of the American Dream.
                                 <all>