[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 64 (Tuesday, May 19, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HANK STRAM/TONY ZALE SPORTS AWARD BANQUET

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 1998

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to announce 
that Lodge 2365 of the Polish National Alliance of the United States, 
also known as the Silver Bell Club, held its 25th Annual Hank Stram/
Tony Zale Sports Award Banquet yesterday, May 18, 1998, at the Radisson 
Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville, Indiana. Eighteen Northwest 
Indiana high school students of Polish and Slavic descent received the 
prestigious Hank Stram/Tony Zale Award plaque at last night's banquet. 
These outstanding students were chosen to receive the award by their 
respective schools on the basis of academic and athletic achievement. 
All proceeds from the banquet will go toward a scholarship fund which 
will be awarded to deserving students next year.
  This year's Hank Stram/Tony Zale Award recipients include: Andrew 
Bien of Boone Grove High School; Jeff Bozovich of Chesterton High 
School; Andrew Byrom of Merrillville High School; Luke DeBold of 
Andrean High School; Tania Fliter of Griffith High School; Stephen 
Hnatiuk of Hobart High School; Cheryl Jakubczyk of Hammond High School; 
Richard Jaryszak of Lowell High School; Dan Kaminski of Portage High 
School; Steve Kaminski of Portage High School; Annie Knish of Munster 
High School; Ben Lyon of Highland High School; Justin Marcinkewicz of 
Bishop Noll Institute; Kelly O'Brien of Crown Point High School; Dan 
Perryman of Lake Station Edison High School; Eileen Stahura of Whiting 
High School; Becky Turek of Valparaiso High School; and Melissa 
Wychocki of Lake Central High School.
  Hank Stram, one of the most successful coaches in professional 
football history, was present at yesterday's event. Hank was raised in 
Gary, Indiana, and he graduated from Lew Wallace High School where he 
played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. While attending 
college at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Hank won four letters 
in baseball and three letters in football. During his senior year, he 
received the coveted Big Ten Medal, which is awarded to the conference 
athlete who best combines athletic and academic success. After college, 
Hank entered the NFL where he became best noted for coaching the Kansas 
City Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory in 1970.
  The late Tony Zale was a champion boxer from Gary, Indiana. During 
his boxing career, Tony defeated the National Boxing Association 
champion in July of 1940, became a world titleholder when he defeated 
World Middleweight Champion, Georgie Abrams, in 1941, and successfully 
defended his title against famous boxer, Rocky Graziano, in 1945. When 
Tony retired from boxing in 1948, he left the profession with the 
distinction of fighting and beating every contender in the middleweight 
division during his championship reign from 1941 through 1948 and, in 
the 1950s, he was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame. Tony 
Zale passed away in March of last year.
  The distinguished speaker at last night's event was former NFL 
quarterback and head football coach, Sam Wyche. An NFL player and coach 
for 27 years, Sam was one of the original Cincinnati Bengals in 1968, 
and he was the quarterback on the Bengals first playoff team in 1970. 
Sam began his coaching career with Bill Walsh and the San Francisco 
49ers. He coached quarterback Joe Montana from his rookie year through 
the 49ers first Super Bowl victory in 1981. Sam was then head coach of 
the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII, which was against the 49ers. Sam has 
just completed his first year as one of the members of NBC's pre-game 
show, ``NFL on NBC''.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in commending the Silver Bell Club for hosting this celebration of 
success in sports and academics. The hard work of all those involved in 
planning this worthwhile event is indicative of their devotion to the 
very gifted young people in Indiana's First Congressional District.

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