[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 11 (Wednesday, February 9, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING DERRICK THOMAS

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to express my sadness at 
the news of the passing of one of the finest defensive football players 
ever, Derrick Thomas.
  Derrick Thomas had a stellar 11 year career, all of which was spent 
with the Kansas City Chiefs. Among his numerous NFL achievements are 9 
Pro Bowl appearances, 119.5 sacks, 3 safeties, and 28 fumble 
recoveries; all of which are K.C. records. In 1990, Derrick had 20 
sacks in one season, setting a K.C. single season record.
  When Derrick was just 5 years old, his father was shot down over 
Vietnam on December 17, 1972. He was returning from a mission called 
``Operation Linebacker Two.'' As you can imagine, this had a tremendous 
impact on young Derrick. Eighteen years later, Derrick was the most 
dominant linebacker in the National Football League. His most 
impressive performance came against the Seattle Seahawks when he made a 
NFL record 7 sacks in one game. As fate would have it, that game was on 
Veteran's Day.
  Mr. President, while he certainly made an impact on the quarterbacks 
that played against him, he made a much larger impact in the lives of 
those he touched through his philanthropic efforts. During his career 
he received the League's two most prestigious humanitarian awards. In 
1993 he was the youngest man to ever win the NFL Man of the Year and in 
1995 he won the Byron ``Whizzer'' White Humanitarian Award for service 
to team, community and country. The Humanitarian Award is the most 
prestigious award given by the NFL Players Association.
  In 1993 he delivered the keynote address at the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial during the annual Memorial Day ceremony. By delivering the 
Keynote address, he joined the ranks of other great Americans such as 
Bob Hope and General Colin Powell. Derrick said addressing those who 
served with his father was one of his greatest honors.
  By far, his greatest contribution was founding the Third and Long 
Foundation. The foundation's goal is to help inner-city children by 
``sacking illiteracy.'' As part of the program, Derrick would read to 
children at local libraries each home Saturday during the season. 
President Bush designated Derrick as the 832nd point of light for his 
work with the foundation. Derrick said once that he didn't want to be 
remembered or rewarded for what he did in football, but that if he 
helped one child become a success, that is all he needed. Derrick has 
been and will continue to be a force in the lives of many children 
through the work of his foundation.
  Derrick Thomas was truly a humanitarian, philanthropist and hero, not 
only to Kansas City, but to many around the country. His life was 
tragically cut short at the age of 33, but his influence will continue 
to make America better for the youth of this country for many years to 
come. Thank you, Derrick.

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