[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 25, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF BILLY SULLIVAN

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing and mourning a loss for Massachusetts, New England, and the 
professional sports community of this country. On Monday, February 23, 
1998, William H. Sullivan, founder and former owner of the New England 
Patriots, passed away at his home in Florida. I join the rest of the 
Massachusetts delegation in extending to Mary Sullivan, his wife of 56 
years, and their six children the condolences of millions of people who 
were affected by the vast and varied pursuits of Billy Sullivan. His 
leadership was instrumental in bringing a professional football team to 
New England, and by overseeing the merger of the American Football 
League and the National Football League he ushered the entire sport 
into a new era of cultural prominence.
  While Billy Sullivan is predominantly identified with professional 
football and the New England Patriots, to summarize his life with just 
those references would do a great injustice to a public career that 
spanned more than 60 years. Billy's pursuits combined the worlds of 
business, human service, community revitalization, and education. From 
Little League baseball to cancer research, sports broadcasting to 
entrepreneurship, Billy Sullivan brought an integrity and drive to any 
pursuit and collectively we are the better for his efforts.
  After graduating from Boston College in 1937, he served as Publicity 
Director for that institution from 1938 to 1940. He briefly assisted 
the Director of Athletics at Notre Dame, then in 1942 answered the 
nation's call and served in the Aviation Training Division of the 
United States Navy throughout World War II.
  Two years after the war he was back and involved in sports, taking 
part in two projects that would send both him and professional sports 
in new directions.
  In 1948 he became Director of Public Relations for the Boston Braves, 
a position that sparked his abiding passion for New England and its 
teams. For his crowning achievement in that post, he produced the first 
package of highlights from the recently completed Braves season for 
media and industry distribution. This short compilation of clips 
revolutionized sports broadcasting and reporting, tapping into a market 
so strong that he established a company in 1952 to produce these 
segments for mass distribution. Use of these clips on television 
broadcasts resulted in the nightly sports segment that is a staple of 
virtually every news program throughout the country.
  During that same year came the inspiration for the Jimmy Fund, now an 
internationally recognized cancer research foundation that provides 
millions of dollars for research and treatments. Under Billy Sullivan's 
guidance, The Jimmy Fund grew from an ambitious idea to an organization 
that now reaches out to thousands of families from all over this 
country and the world. With an eye towards increased community support 
and permanence of mission, he enlisted the sports teams and fans of New 
England in his fight against cancer. This masterful stroke of 
organizing skill leaves us an alliance whose effectiveness and 
dedication will allow his helping hand to extend long into the next 
century. He helped create the Hundred Club, a private organization that 
aids the families of police officers and firefighters hurt or killed in 
the line of duty. He also provided distinguished service as a member of 
the boards of the United Way, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 
Stonehill College, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Research Corporation 
and countless others. These are just a few of the dozens of community 
organizations that were the fortunate recipients of his time and 
energy.
  For many New Englanders, though, William Sullivan is foremost the 
founder of the Patriots and one of the central players in the merger of 
the AFL and the NFL.
  We applaud his life, his spirit and his many contributions to the 
millions whom he touched in one way or the other. We will miss you, 
Billy.

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