[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H2640]]
                             SO LONG, JOHN

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. First it was Jordan, then it was Gretzky, now it is 
Elway.
  On Sunday afternoon, the whole State of Colorado turned on their 
television sets to watch a press conference. The man whose name has 
become synonymous with the Denver Broncos, John Elway, announced his 
retirement from football.
  The statistics books will show that John Elway had 16 great seasons 
as a Denver Bronco. He had 148 victories and 47 come-from-behind wins, 
both National Football League records. He passed for over 50,000 yards, 
rushed for another 3,000 and played in 234 games, and through it all he 
only missed 15 career starts. Not the least of his achievements, he led 
the Broncos to five Superbowls and two Superbowl wins.
  What the stat books will not show us is what John Elway has meant to 
the State of Colorado. He gave us joy and excitement every week. His 
career became a true profile in courage of perseverance and was a 
testimony to all that dreams can really come true.
  Most importantly, in a time when Colorado and this Nation is in such 
desperate need of role models, John Elway was that, too.
  John, from the State of Colorado and from a grateful Nation and from 
this Bronco fan:
  ``Thank you.''

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