[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 75 (Saturday, May 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DON LEEBERN: A WINNER IN BOTH ARENAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SAXBY CHAMBLISS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 25, 2001

  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to 
Donald M. Leebern, Jr. a man whom, either knowingly or unknowingly, has 
touched and blessed the lives of many people in the state of Georgia. 
He is known by those closest to him as modest, personable and self-
deprecating; however, ``on field'' or in the business world, he is a 
proven winner who works to succeed.
  Don attended the University of Georgia where he played football, and 
started on both offense and defense. He played on the Bulldog's 1959 
SEC Championship team that went on to win the Orange Bowl.
  Earlier this year, ``Big'' Don, as friends affectionately call him, 
was inducted into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame.
  Pat Dye, a teammate of Leebern's at UGA and also former Head football 
coach at Auburn University, had this to say of Leebern, ``it didn't 
make any difference, practice or playing. He was always full speed. He 
absolutely would not lose. He'd find a way to win.'' Pat Dye was 
absolutely correct.
  Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Leebern was picked by the Dallas 
Texans in the first ever American Football League draft. As he was 
getting ready to debut in the AFL, his father passed away. Instead of 
pursuing what would have been a career of fame and fortune in 
professional football, Don decided to return home to Columbus and take 
over the family business, Georgia Crown Distributing Company.
  It is not surprising what happened to the business. Georgia Crown 
Distributing Company has grown into one of the top 500 private 
companies in America. He built the small struggling wholesale beverage 
distributor into a thriving and diversified regional business, making 
him one of the most influential people in Georgia. He served on the 
Georgia Athletic Board and is a member of the University System of 
Georgia Board of Regents, which he chaired in 1994 and 1995. Leebern 
has been able to use his influence to better his community by, among 
other things, getting state funding for a basketball arena and physical 
education building at Columbus State--the Lumpkin Center.
  The University of Georgia's Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall is where future 
Georgia football legends practice. It is also where Georgia's football 
history is housed, from Frank Sinkwich and Herschel Walker's Heisman 
Trophies, to photos of legendary Coach Wally Butts and jerseys of 
former Bulldog quarterback Fran Tarkenton. But there is only one name 
that anyone will see over the locker room at the Butts-Mehre Heritage 
Hall, specifically they will see, ``The Donald Leebern, Jr. Memorial 
Locker Room.'' Certainly, it's a fitting reminder of all the good 
things Don has done for Georgia and the impact he's still having on 
future generations.
  Don Leebern has certainly made a significant contribution to the 
state of Georgia and his life has certainly been a story of success. 
Congratulations, Don for a life of service. I applaud you for all you 
have done and wish you many more years of success in the arena.




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