[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 158 (Thursday, November 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING JOHN JORDON ``BUCK'' O'NEIL ON HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2001

  Mr. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man 
some call ``Mr. Kansas City'', Mr. John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil. 
``Buck'' is a man who has come to embody the ideals we share as a 
nation. As he celebrates his 90th birthday on November 13, 2001, I am 
proud and honored to celebrate the lifetime of achievement of our 
hometown hero.
  John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil was born November 13, 1911 in Carrabelle, 
Florida. He developed a love of baseball at an early age and his father 
nicknamed him ``Buck'' after the co-owner of the Miami Giants, Buck 
O'Neal. Though a segregated America denied Buck the opportunity to 
grace the diamonds of the Major Leagues as a player, he was able to 
showcase his unmatched talent with the Kansas City Monarchs of the 
Negro Leagues. He joined the Monarchs in 1938, and played for them 
until 1943, at which time he went to serve his country in World War II. 
Recognizing his patriotic responsibility to our country, he entered the 
United States Navy and was stationed in the Philippines from 1943 until 
his discharge in 1946. Buck was named player/manager for the Monarchs 
in 1948 and continued his association with the team through the end of 
the 1955 season.
  As a player, Buck had a career batting average of .288, including 
four .300-plus seasons at the plate, and led the Kansas City Monarchs 
to victory in the 1942 Negro World Series. After 12 years as a player, 
Buck changed hats and managed the Monarchs to four more league titles 
in six years. Following his career with the Kansas City Monarchs, Buck 
joined the major leagues as a scout for the Chicago Cubs. In 1962 the 
Chicago Cubs made him the first African American to coach in the 
Majors. Buck is credited with signing Hall of Fame baseball greats 
Ernie Banks and Lou Brock to their first professional contracts, and is 
acknowledged to have sent more Negro League athletes to the all white 
major leagues than any other man in baseball history.
  Today he serves as the Board Chairman for the Negro Leagues Baseball 
Museum in Kansas City, and spends his time promoting the achievements 
of African American baseball players who played for the love of the 
game, despite the color barriers at that time that kept them out of the 
Majors. He is also actively involved in utilizing the Museum to assist 
in the education of youth in the community through programs such as 
``Reading Around the Bases'' where elementary school students learn 
from community readers about the pioneers of the Negro Leagues. I was 
honored to be asked to read from ``second base'' to a group of students 
as part of celebrating Buck's 88th birthday party. Our ``Hometown 
Hero'' is very active in various charitable causes within the 
community. He lends his name and energy to sponsor the Buck O'Neil Golf 
Classic, a fundraiser for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the 
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In the past three years, the event has 
raised nearly $350,000 for the organizations. For the past six years, 
the Kansas City Securities Association, Inc. Educational Endowment Fund 
has given four-year scholarships to graduating high school students in 
honor of Negro Leagues players, one in honor of Buck O'Neil. He 
participates in the Negro Leagues Museum's ``Night of the Harvest 
Moon'' program on Halloween night. It provides area children a safe 
alternative from the traditional to door to door trick or treating. 
More than 14,000 children have participated in the event over the past 
four years.
  Buck has risen to national prominence with his moving narration of 
the Negro Leagues as part of Ken Burns' PBS baseball documentary. Since 
then he has been the source of countless national interviews including 
appearances on ``Late Night with David Letterman,'' and ``Late, Late 
Show with Tom Snyder.'' Last week he gave an interview to Jim Rome, who 
has a nationally syndicated sports radio program. Mr. Rome said he 
could have talked to Buck for the entire three hour show because Buck 
had such rich experiences to share about various baseball players, and 
baseball in general. He ended his comments by saying that Buck was one 
of the most interesting interviews he had ever had on his show.
  Mr. Speaker, our hero finds ways to assist deserving organizations 
even in celebrating his birthday. While talking about baseball, Buck 
mentioned that his ``birthday present'' would be to raise ninety 
thousand dollars for the programs of the Negro Leagues. Starting almost 
immediately after his interview ended, the staff of the Negro Leagues 
Museum was inundated with calls and e-mails for nearly four hours.
  On his 90th birthday, the City of Kansas City, Missouri named a 
street in his honor one block north of 18th and Vine, the area which 
houses the Negro Leagues Museum as well as the Jazz Hall of Fame. The 
street's new name is John ``Buck'' O'Neil Way. In honor of his 90th 
birthday on November 13, I requested a flag be flown from my Capitol 
office window. This was presented to him at a dinner ceremony in Kansas 
City, Missouri on November 14. At this ceremony he was recognized for 
his heroic and patriotic accomplishments by the President of the United 
States, the House and Senate, and local and state officials. I look 
forward to the day in the near future when the Baseball Hall of Fame 
Veterans Committee recognizes our hometown hero for his accomplishments 
on and off the baseball field and approve his induction into the 
Baseball Hall of Fame.
  In addition to his work in Cooperstown and at the museum in Kansas 
City, Buck is finding new and exciting ways to enjoy life and spread 
his infectious charm and warm spirit. He is a local hero whose 
recognition for service is recognized at home and nationally. He was 
given the Trumpet Award in 1999 by the Turner Broadcasting System 
saluting him for achievements to African Americans. The Rotary 
Foundation of Rotary International conferred on Buck its ``Paul Harris 
Fellow'' in appreciation of ``. . . furthering better understanding and 
friendly relations among peoples of the world.'' Kansas State 
University bestowed upon him the ``Lifetime Leadership Award'' in 
``recognition for leadership, community involvement, commitment to 
diversity, and life long record of contribution to the public.'' Buck 
has received numerous awards in recognition of his work in the 
community and assistance to various organizations. Some of these awards 
are: recognition by the United States Army for ``outstanding support of 
Army recruiting in Kansas City;'' the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce 
honored him with its ``Centurion Leadership Award;'' he was accorded 
the ``Distinguished Service Award'' by the State Historical Society of 
Missouri; and on November 10, 2001 Buck was given the ``Ewing Kauffman 
Outstanding Achievement Award'' from the Jewish Community Center. As an 
award winning baseball player, esteemed baseball manager and scout, 
decorated veteran, and humanitarian, Buck exemplifies excellence in 
public service and his career serves as a beacon for generations to 
come. He symbolizes the spirit of American patriotism and is a role 
model for us all.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil. 
It is an honor and a privilege to join in the 90th birthday celebration 
of an American hero, a national treasure, a symbol of African American 
pride, and one of Kansas City's favorite sons. Buck's favorite song is 
``The Greatest Thing in All My Life, is Loving You.'' Buck, I love you, 
salute you and your heroic accomplishments, and am delighted and 
privileged to know such a patriot and to call you my friend, Thank you, 
Buck.

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