[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 86 (Thursday, June 17, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             TRIBUTE TO RETIRING FOOTBALL COACH GIL RECTOR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 1999

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that after 31 
years, five Missouri state championships, 10 Missouri River Valley 
Conference Championships, and 13 district titles, Gil Rector of 
Lexington, Missouri, is retiring as Lexington High School's Head 
Football Coach.
  Coach Rector came to Lexington in 1965 as a student teacher. Upon 
graduation, he moved to Carrollton where he worked as an assistant 
coach until 1968. He returned to Lexington as head football coach 
during the 1968-69 school year, upon the retirement of William ``Bill'' 
Hamann. Over the years, Coach Rector has coached many young men on the 
fundamentals of football and how to become champions. One of the many 
highlights of his career was in 1980 when the Lexington Minutemen won 
the State Championship. Lexington High School had been denied a shot at 
the state title the previous year, despite an undefeated season, 
because of a point system which kept the team for qualifying for the 
State Championship. In 1980, the team continued its winning streak, 
going on to win a co-championship with John Burroughs High School of 
St. Louis, Missouri.
  Coach Rector knows exactly what it takes to have a competitive 
program. His statistics include a 25 game winning streak from 1975-81. 
This accomplishment is the longest streak in the history of Lexington 
Football, and is still untouched by any other team in the Missouri 
River Valley Conference.
  Mr. Speaker, Coach Rector was a winner who will be sorely missed by 
all who knew him at Lexington High School. I know the Members of the 
House will join me in paying tribute to this fine Missourian.

                          ____________________