[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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