[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 28, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO PAUL KRAUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 1998

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of the 
greatest players in the history of the National Football League.
  Paul Krause of Lakeville, Minnesota, was elected to the Pro Football 
Hall of Fame on Saturday.
  Mr. Speaker, this great honor is a truly fitting tribute to an 
athlete who revolutionized the position of safety in the NFL over 16 
seasons, four with the Redskins right here in Washington and the last 
12 with out Minnesota Vikings, before he retired after the 1982 season.
  Former Vikings Coach and Minnesota Legend Bud Grant--a Hall of Famer 
himself--put it best when he wrote in Paul's nominating letter: ``He 
had the athletic ability plus the instincts to be the best free safety 
I have ever coached or watched play in the NFL.''
  Vikings fans everywhere across this great nation--and that includes 
the distinguished Majority Leader!--are overjoyed and extremely proud 
about this most well-deserved honor for the greatest free safety in NFL 
history.
  Paul Krause's 81 interceptions over 16 NFL seasons remain the 
standard of excellence for defensive backs and a number which appears 
as unreachable as Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak and Babe Ruth's 
60 homers in 154 games.
  The famous sports question, ``Who is Wally Pipp?'' pales in 
comparison to ``Who was Marlin McKeever?'' The answer, of course, is 
McKeever was the player traded to the Redskins in 1968 for Krause. Our 
Nation's Capital had to wait until 1973 to get to the Super Bowl. The 
Vikings made it just two years following Krause's arrival in Minnesota.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Iowa and then Vikings Assistant Coach 
Jerry Burns--who was familiar with Krause from coaching him at the 
University of Iowa--for the blessing of having Paul Krause in the 
defensive backfield for all those years in Minnesota.
  People who rise to the top of their professions like Paul Krause 
often accomplish remarkable things after they leave the playing field.
  Mr. Speaker, Paul is a real leader in his community. He was elected 
to the Dakota County Board, one of the Twin Cities-area's biggest 
counties.
  But over the last two years, he has accomplished much, much more in 
the biggest struggle of his life.
  Two years ago, his wife Pam suffered a serious brain injury in a car 
accident that nearly claimed her life. The injury put her in a deep 
coma.
  Mr. Speaker, thanks to Paul's relentless efforts, Pam's courage and 
their amazing commitment to each other, Pam is making miracles happen 
every day.
  In fact, Pam accompanied her husband, who does extensive charity 
work, to San Diego to participate in the annual ``Taste of the NFL'' 
event, which is held in the Super Bowl city each year to raise much-
needed money for various causes.
  Paul Krause has been eligible for election to the Hall of Fame since 
1987. This good thing was a long time coming. Pam was there when the 
Hall of Fame voting announcement was made public.
  ``That was a pretty good phone call,'' Paul said in recounting the 
good news on Saturday. ``It's been a very, very difficult two years for 
us as a family. This year, Pam came to the Super Bowl with me and said, 
`This is the year.' It's very important to them. I wanted to make it 
for them.''
  Mr. Speaker, all Minnesotans are extremely proud of Paul Krause. We 
wish Paul and Pam and their family the very best in the years to come.

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