[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 17 (Thursday, February 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      JAKE GAITHER, GREAT AMERICAN

                                 ______


                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 24, 1994

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, and Members of the House, I rise 
today to pay tribute to Alonso Smith ``Jake'' Gaither. Jake was the 
legendary head football coach of Florida A&M University from 1945 to 
1969. He passed away last Friday. He was 90 years old.
  Gaither coached the Rattler football team for 25 seasons compiling 
203 wins, 36 losses, and 4 ties. His winning percentage of .844 has 
been exceeded by only five college coaches in history, although none 
have won as many games. Three times he was chosen as college football's 
national coach of the year by the Associated Press, the American 
Football Coaches Association, and the National Association of 
Intercollegiate Athletics. He is the only college football coach ever 
to receive college football's ``triple crown.'' He was elected to the 
College Hall of Fame of the National Football Foundation and the same 
year received the Amos Alonzo Staff and the Walter Camp Awards. No 
other college coach since has received all three awards, let alone 
received them all in the same year.
  But that is only part of Jake Gaither's legacy. Coach Gaither was 
much more than an innovative football coach two taught the likes of 
Paul ``Bear'' Bryant, Ara Parseghian, Woody Hayes, Eddie Robinson, 
Bobby Bowden, and others at his annual coaching clinics. Much of what 
Jake Gaither leaves behind had nothing to do with football and 
everything to do with teaching his boys lessons to see them through 
life. Jake and his wife, Sadie, never had children, so each of his 
players in essence became a part of their family. He taught his 
``boys'' character. He taught them values.
  Gaither once said, ``I can teach a lot more character winning than I 
can losing.'' Gaither taught a lot of character. He was determined to 
work on the whole youngster, not just the athlete. He told his boys, 
``You will be gentlemen off the field and on. You will be good 
Floridians off the field and on. You will be good Americans off the 
field and on.''
  Gaither also said, ``A coach shouldn't be as concerned about what 
kind of player he's developing in college as what kind of man he's made 
in 15 years.''
  Perhaps former Congressman Don Fuqua said it best: ``Few men have 
achieved the success that Jake Gaither has known in his profession. Few 
men have achieved such universal respect and love from his fellow man. 
Few men have known the thrill that has come to this compassionate giant 
in taking young men and instilling confidence and pride in them to the 
extent that those lessons are never forgotten.''
  Mr. Speaker, we have lost not only a great teacher, motivator, and 
innovator, but a great Floridian and, indeed, a great American.

                          ____________________