[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RETIREMENT OF RALPH TASKER

 Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise to give praise to a great 
man. Ralph Tasker has announced that after 52 seasons of coaching, he 
will retire as the head basketball coach at Hobbs High School in New 
Mexico. In his 52 seasons, Coach Tasker has amassed over 1,103 wins en 
route to 12 State championships, 4 State runner-up titles, and 1 
National Coach of the Year title. Indeed, Coach Tasker's legacy is that 
of a man who not only won many basketball games, but also brought his 
positive influence into the lives of hundreds of high school students.
  From 1965 to 1967, Coach Tasker's team won 53 consecutive games. In 
the 1969-70 season, his team averaged 114.6 points per game, earning 
him the prestigious National Coach of the Year title. In the 1980's, 
Coach Tasker continued his winning ways as he led his team to 
consecutive undefeated seasons from 1980-82, and he was elected to the 
National High School Sports Hall of Fame.
  Mr. President, on the eve of the third-winningest active high school 
coach's retirement, I would like to take this opportunity to thank 
Ralph Tasker for his years of dedication to the youth of New Mexico. 
Certainly, we all have a lot to learn from this man, and his example 
stands as a marker that we should all strive to attain. Thank you, 
Coach Tasker, for teaching us the true meaning of winning 
gracefully.

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