[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 103 (Thursday, June 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   TRIBUTE TO THE LATE LINDSAY NELSON

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                             HON. ED BRYANT

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 22, 1995
  Mr. BRYANT of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I wish to make all of my 
colleagues in this body aware that one of America's most famous voices 
in sports television and radio recently passed away. Mr. Lindsey Nelson 
was a long-time announcer for numerous sporting teams and events at 
both the collegiate and professional level. I am proud to say that Mr. 
Nelson was a native of the Seventh Congressional District of Tennessee, 
hailing from Columbia in Maury County. One of my good friends, Don 
Hinkle, is the editor of the Daily Herald in Columbia, and he recently 
wrote a fitting editorial in memory of Mr. Nelson and his illustrious 
career. I would like to bring Mr. Hinkles' work to the attention of my 
colleagues, for it would do each of us well to reflect upon the life of 
one of the most celebrated sports announcers in the history of this 
country. Mr. Hinkles' moving editorial reads as follows:

       Lindsey Nelson was arguably the most famous person to ever 
     come out of Maury County.
       Though the Polk daughters and the Sterling Marlin fans can 
     rightly claim an equally lofty position for their beloved 
     sons, perhaps no one has been as enduring to living Maury 
     countians--and to all American sports fans--as the talented 
     Nelson.
       Known for his colorful sports jackets, Nelson began his 
     career in the news media here at the Daily Herald in the 
     early 1930's, working first as a carrier then later as this 
     newspaper's first sports writer.
       He went on to the University of Tennessee and a Hall of 
     Fame career as a sportscaster--both on radio and television. 
     He distinguished himself as ``The Voice'' of the New York 
     Mets in the 1960's and 1970's and the Cotton Bowl football 
     game for 26 years. He also founded the far-flung UT Radio 
     Network, now one of the largest in the nation.
       ``Hello Everybody, I'm Lindsey Nelson,'' became one of the 
     most familiar introductions in all of sports broadcasting. 
     Those words became so famous, that Nelson elected to use them 
     as the title of his autobiography published in 1985.
       His articulate descriptions of the action were not only 
     exciting, but downright comfortable--kind of like your 
     favorite easychair. His voice was clear and his style 
     gracious, typical of the Southern gentleman he truly was.
       Sadly we have all lost an old friend.
       Even those who never had the privilege of meeting Nelson 
     felt like they knew him anyway. Too many of us sat huddled up 
     against our radios to hear him call a Tennessee football game 
     or sat in our dads' laps and watched him on Sunday afternoon 
     NLF telecasts.
       Today Maury County mourns the loss of one of its greatest 
     native sons.
       Lindsey Nelson was loved and we will all miss him.
       

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