[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 918 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 918

   Recognizing the 60th Anniversary of Chuck Bednarik's debut in the 
National Football League and the contributions of all Slovak-Americans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 18, 2009

    Mr. Sestak (for himself, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gerlach, and Mr. Doyle) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                   on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the 60th Anniversary of Chuck Bednarik's debut in the 
National Football League and the contributions of all Slovak-Americans.

Whereas there are approximately 1.9 million Americans of Slovak descent;
Whereas Chuck Bednarik's home state of Pennsylvania is home to over 245,000 
        persons of Slovak descent and the Greater Pittsburgh region has more 
        individuals of Slovak heritage than any city in the world outside of 
        Slovakia;
Whereas the 2009-2010 season marks the 60th Anniversary of Chuck Bednarik's 
        debut in the National Football League;
Whereas Chuck Bednarik is one of the greatest Slovak-American athletes and 
        greatest football players of all-time, winning the distinguished Maxwell 
        Award as the nation's best college football player in 1948, and was 
        inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967;
Whereas Chuck Bednarik was the son of Slovak immigrants who settled in 
        Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and worked at Bethlehem Steel;
Whereas Chuck Bednarik served his country bravely as a B-24 Waist Gunner in the 
        United States Army Air Force during World War II;
Whereas Chuck Bednarik flew more than 30 combat missions as a member of the 
        Eighth Air Force;
Whereas Chuck Bednarik attended the University of Pennsylvania on the G.I. Bill 
        and was a 3-time All-American;
Whereas Chuck Bednarik played a distinguished 14-year career in the National 
        Football League as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, earning him the 
        nickname ``Concrete Charlie'', and was the last great ``60-minute Man'' 
        in the National Football League, playing on both offense and defense;
Whereas Chuck Bednarik led the Philadelphia Eagles to 2 National Football League 
        Championships, making a game-saving tackle to secure victory in the 1960 
        NFL Championship Game;
Whereas Chuck Bednarik was selected to 8 Pro Bowls and was 10 times a National 
        Football League All-Pro selection; and
Whereas the Slovak-American community has contributed greatly to this Nation, 
        with other notable Americans of Slovak descent including Tom Ridge 
        (former Governor of Pennsylvania and this country's first Secretary of 
        Homeland Security), John D. Hertz (businessman and philanthropist), Andy 
        Warhol (artist), Stefan Banic (inventor of the parachute), Jozef Murgas 
        (inventor of the radio), Paul Newman (actor and philanthropist), Michael 
        Strank (one of those who raised the American flag over Iwo Jima), and 
        Peter Lorre (actor): Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 60th 
Anniversary of Chuck Bednarik's debut in the National Football league 
and the contributions of all Slovak-Americans.
                                 <all>