[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1884-E1885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BEST WISHES TOMMY AMAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 29, 1997

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, September 30, a reception will be 
held for Harold Tommy Amaker in New Jersey. Tommy Amaker is Seton Hall 
University's (SHU) first African-American men's basketball head coach. 
He is also the youngest coach in the Big East Conference, one of the 
top basketball conferences.
  Mr. Speaker, I am a proud alumnus of Seton Hall University and my 
level of pride keeps going up when things like this happen. I was an 
SHU student when the great Seton Hall team in 1953 won the National 
Invitational Tournament (NIT). It was the premiere collegiate 
championship tournament. The Seton Hall team was led by Walter Dukes 
and Richie Regan. Richie Regan continues to serve the University as the 
Pirate Blue chairman. The Pirate Blue is an athletic fund raising group 
at Seton Hall.
  I want to applaud Monsignor Robert Sheeran, president of SHU, who 
used personal leadership to recruit SHU's first African-American 
basketball coach. I would also like to commend Philip Thigpen, former 
national middle distance champ in the 50's, for his leadership in 
assembling a group of African-American alumni of SHU and its School of 
Law to host this reception.
  Tommy Amaker and his challenge to return SHU to championship status 
have brought excitement. On March 20 he was named the

[[Page E1885]]

coach of SHU men's basketball team. Prior to this position he had 
served the Duke University basketball team for 13 years--4 as a player 
and 9 as an assistant coach. During his tenure he became the top 
recruiter for Duke's Blue Devils where he helped land highly-touted 
Shane Battier, a 6-foot-8 forward from Michigan; Jeff Capel, a current 
Duke guard, and Grant Hill, now of the Detroit Pistons. Amaker 
captained Duke as a senior and earned All-American honors. He received 
the Henry Iba Corinthian Award in 1987 as the Nation's best defensive 
player. In 1986 during the Final Four, he had the most steals, seven.
  Academics are just as important to Tommy Amaker as are sports. He 
received a B.A. degree in Economics from Duke in 1987 and was drafted 
by the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics. After being cut in training camp, he 
returned to Duke as a management intern with the university 
administration for 1 year before enrolling in the Fuqua School of 
Business. He served as a graduate assistant while studying in the 
business school in 1988-89. He is a fine student and teacher of the 
game. He also has been successful in forming the Tommy Amaker 
Basketball Academy, a summer day camp for youth.
  Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues will join me as I extend best 
wishes to Tommy Amaker and his wife, Stephanie, as they undertake 
successful careers in the great State of New Jersey.

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