[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 15, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        TRIBUTE TO JENNIFER KNOX

  Mr. FAIRCLOTH. Madam President, one of our colleagues in the Senate 
received a great and deserved honor this week, an honor I am certain is 
more special to him than the warehouse of plaques he had been given, or 
even the hundreds of letters of support he will receive this week.
  Senate Jesse and Dot Helms' granddaughter, Jennifer Knox, played this 
week in the NCAA II South Atlantic Regional Tournament. Jennifer, a 5-
feet 9-inch sophomore guard and daughter of Charles and James Helms 
Knox, joined the Wingate College Bulldogs as they hosted the regional 
tournament.
  A former standout player at Hale High in Raleigh, NC, Jennifer worked 
long and hard with her teammates for this opportunity. They lost only 1 
game of 27, and ended the season ranked ninth in the Nation. 
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs narrowly lost the champion game in overtime 
last Saturday night.
  I know Jesse had said many times that his father, the police chief of 
Monroe, NC, used to tell him, ``God doesn't require you to win, son, he 
only requires that you do your best.'' I am sure Jennifer had heard 
those same words, and that they served her well last Saturday night.
  Madam President, much is said in this body about education and family 
values. Many in the Senate are full of ideas about how the Federal 
Government and the taxpayer can strengthen both. I challenge them to 
find a government program more effective than the solid family guidance 
and moral leadership provided by my senior colleague from North 
Carolina. His four children and seven grandchildren are models of 
family values.
  Like any granddaughter of a U.S. Senator, Jennifer Knox hears a lot 
about her grandfather. But on the court, it is all business. She says 
that the news about him go out, but it was ``never a big deal'' with 
her teammates. In the Senate sometimes we forget that there are things 
more important to people than politics, like basketball.
  Jennifer's success, however, demonstrates that she is blessed with 
the same strength of character and conviction that has characterized 
her grandfather's 21 years of service in the Senate.
  I am sure Jennifer is as proud of her grandfather Jesse as he is of 
her. She should be. Jennifer is an excellent example of what can be 
accomplished when someone follows his prescription for personal 
success. Faith in God, hard work, and self reliance--that simple and 
time tested recipe produces winners like Jennifer Knox.
  Madam President, I have with me an article from the Charlotte 
Observer concerning Jennifer Knox and Wingate College's bid for the 
NCAA II National Championship. I ask that the article be printed in its 
entirety in the Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

           [From the Charlotte (NC) Observer, Mar. 11, 1994]

              Wingate's Knox Not Just Helms' Granddaughter

                           (By Steve Lyttle)

       Wingate.--Jennifer Knox's grandfather attended Wingate more 
     than 50 years ago, and he didn't play basketball.
       But his papers are stored across the street from the 
     college in a house bearing his name--the Jesse Helms Center.
       Now Knox is making her mark at the college in her own way.
       She and her teammates on the Wingate women's basketball 
     team are hosts tonight and Saturday for the NCAA Division II 
     South Atlantic Regional tournament.
       The champion, to be crowned after an 8 p.m. game Saturday, 
     advances to the NCAA Elite Eight, set for March 23-26.
       Wingate, 26-1 and ranked seventh nationally, plays at 8 
     tonight in Cuddy Arena against South Atlantic Conference foe 
     Presbyterian (22-7), which lost both regular season games to 
     Wingate.
       In the 6 p.m. opener, Norfolk State (25-3) faces USC-
     Spartanburg (27-3).
       Knox is a 5-9 sophomore reserve guard for the Bulldogs, who 
     are playing in NCAA Division II for the first season.
       She was a standout player at Hale High, a private school in 
     Raleigh, and has played well in stints at Wingate.
       Along the way, news of her favorite grandfather leaked out. 
     Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., is known nationally for his 
     conservative stands.
       ``Only Sherry Winn (a fellow sophomore guard on the team) 
     knew about my grandfather when I came here as a freshman,'' 
     Knox said.
       ``News got out about him in a hurry, though, but it never 
     was a big deal with my teammates.''
       Knox said she has not heard about her famous grandfather 
     from opponents or fans either--until last week, perhaps.
       ``I'm still not sure, but when we were warming up last 
     weekend in the conference tournament, someone said, `Hey, 
     Helms','', she said. ``I'm still not sure if that's what they 
     said.''
       Knox said teammates and fellow Wingate students sometimes 
     ask for her opinion to help settle a political debate.
       ``I guess they figure I'll have an opinion,'' she said, 
     smiling.
       A busy schedule in the U.S. Senate has prevented Helms from 
     seeing his granddaughter play, but the two spent time 
     together last fall when Helms visited Wingate to help open 
     the Jesse Helms Center.
       The center--a museum of government papers and Helms' 
     memorabilia--is across the street from the Wingate campus.
       A private foundation not connected to the school runs the 
     center, but Helms already has brought Jeanne Kirkpatrick, 
     former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to the campus. 
     He said other notable political figures will visit Wingate 
     soon, as part of the Helms Center program.
       Knox said she visited the Wingate campus in 1986, when the 
     Helms family arrived to work out details for the center.
       ``I really liked Wingate, and when coach (Johnny) Jacumin 
     contacted me in my senior year, I remembered the place,'' 
     Knox said. ``I'm glad I came.''
       The move from a small private high school to a high-powered 
     college program required an adjustment last year, she said.
       ``In high school, it was, `Give the ball to Jennifer and 
     hope she scores''' Knox said. ``This year, I've been more 
     comfortable.''
       Knox said she and her teammates are excited about their 
     achievement.
       ``We're five wins away from a national championship,'' she 
     said. ``It's amazing, almost unbelievable.''

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