[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 7 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      CELEBRATING A CHICAGO LEGEND

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 5, 1998

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, one of the few genuine legends of Chicago 
journalism, Irv Kupcinet, has just completed 55 years of writing one of 
the most popular columns in the midwest. ``Kup'' has countless friends 
in the worlds of entertainment, politics and sports. His entire career 
has been spent with the Chicago Sun-Times and predecessor newspapers. 
And on January 18th, the Sun-Times published a warm editorial which I 
am pleased to share with my colleagues:

                             Kup a Treasure

       For 55 years, Kup's Column has been a staple of Chicago 
     journalism. And its author, Irv Kupcinet, has been a dean of 
     his profession.
       It is not just that he has done what he does for so many 
     years. It is that he has done it with a grace, quality and 
     compassion so often missing from contemporary American 
     culture.
       Kup has been a gentleman away from his keyboard as well. 
     Over the years, he has spent his time and money supporting 
     the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Chicago Academy for 
     the Arts, Little City Foundation and the Variety Club, and 
     working on telethons raising money for Easter Seals, muscular 
     dystrophy and cerebral palsy. Last, but certainly not least, 
     he spent an amazing 50 years hosting the Purple Heart Cruise 
     to thank veterans for their service to the country.
       And to think this whole, wonderful career happened only 
     because an injury ended his first career as a professional 
     football player.
       Football's loss was Our Town's gain. Chicago, and the Sun-
     Times, are lucky to have you, Kup.

     

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