[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          TRIBUTE TO DON KING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 1999

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of 
America's greatest boxing promoters, Mr. Don King.
  Born on August 20, 1931, and raised in the Cleveland housing projects 
by his mother Hattie, Don beat the odds to become a very successful 
promoter. His shocking hair style, infectious smile, booming laugh, 
inimitable vocabulary and his catch phrase ``Only in America!'' have 
made Don King universally recognizable.
  King's career as a promoter spans three decades and includes more 
than 500 world championship fights, but it began with a plea to help 
save a Cleveland hospital. Facing a severe shortage of funds, Forest 
City Hospital was prepared to shut down. King knew the hospital was 
vital to poor and working class people. He sought out heavyweight 
champion Muhammad Ali and asked him to support a benefit to raise money 
for the hospital. The two men hit it off and the hospital was saved.
  Mr. Speaker, Don's promotions have entertained billions around the 
globe. His life has been devoted to staging the best in world 
championship boxing, as well as giving back to the people. Don King 
promotes events that have given the sports and entertainment world some 
of their most thrilling and memorable moments and have advanced the 
careers of many African-American and Puerto Rican fighters.
  In 1974 King promoted one of history's biggest fights in the former 
Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Dubbed ``The Rumble in 
the Jungle,'' the fight featured Muhammad Ali against George Foreman. 
The first major black promoter, King controlled the heavyweight title 
from 1978-90 while Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson were champions. He 
regained control of the heavyweight title in 1994 with wins by Oliver 
McCall (WBC) and Bruce Seldon (WBA). Other fighters he promoted include 
Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez and of course the new WBC 
welterweight champion, Mr. Felix ``Tito'' Trinidad.
  King's tireless and continuous philanthropic efforts are rarely 
chronicled, but as he says, ``if you do something just to get noticed, 
then it is not a truly charitable gesture.'' He established the Don 
King Foundation, and through it has donated millions of dollars to 
worthy causes and organizations. As a reminder of the economic hardship 
he endured growing up, King has gone into neighborhoods every holiday 
season and personally handed out turkeys to needy families. Don's 
``Turkey Tour'' has given away hundreds of thousands of turkey dinners 
over the years in cities across the country during the holiday season.
  Inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997, King was the only 
boxing promoter named to Sports Illustrated's list of the ``40 Most 
Influential Sports Figures of the Past 40 Years.'' The New York Times 
published a list that included Don King among 100 African-Americans who 
have helped shape this country's history during the last century. The 
honors and awards he has been given are almost beyond counting.
  Don King is married to Henrietta and they have two sons, Carl and 
Eric, a daughter, Debbie, and five grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
America's greatest boxing promoter, Mr. Don King.

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