[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 8 (Wednesday, February 6, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H170-H172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING AND HONORING JACK SHEA, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST IN SPEED 
SKATING, FOR HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATION AND TO HIS COMMUNITY 
                          THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE

  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 340) recognizing and honoring Jack 
Shea, Olympic gold medalist in speed skating, for his many 
contributions to the Nation and to his community throughout his life.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 340

       Whereas John ``Jack'' Amos Shea was born September 7, 1910, 
     in Lake Placid, New York, a village in the Adirondack 
     Mountains;
       Whereas Shea was the son of James Shea, a New York State 
     Assemblyman, and Grace Shea;
       Whereas at the age of 3 Jack began ice skating and by the 
     age of 10 he was competing in speed skating;
       Whereas Shea was the North American speed skating champion 
     in 1929 and 1930;
       Whereas at the age of 21 Shea entered the 1932 Winter 
     Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, during which he won the 
     gold medal in speed skating for both the 500 meter and the 
     1,500 meter events;
       Whereas Shea was elected to the Speed Skating Hall of Fame, 
     was among the first group of honorees elected to the Lake 
     Placid Hall of Fame, and received numerous other honors from 
     the speed skating community;
       Whereas after graduating from Dartmouth College with a 
     degree in political science, Shea served as the town justice 
     of North Elba, New York, from 1958 to 1974, after which he 
     became the town supervisor until his retirement in 1983;
       Whereas Shea was a member of the Executive Committee of the 
     1980 Lake Placid Olympic Organizing Committee;
       Whereas in 1982 Shea was appointed to serve as vice 
     chairman of the Olympic Regional Development Authority;
       Whereas Shea was a loving husband to his wife of 67 years, 
     Elizabeth Steams Shea, and had 4 sons and several 
     grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and
       Whereas Shea's son Jim competed in the 1964 Winter Olympics 
     in Innsbruck, Austria, and his grandson Jim Jr. will compete 
     in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes and honors Jack Shea, Olympic gold medalist 
     in speed skating, for his many contributions to the Nation 
     and to his community throughout his life, and for 
     transcending the sport of speed skating and becoming a symbol 
     of athletic talent and a role model as a loving husband, 
     father, and grandfather; and
       (2) extends it deepest condolences to the family of Jack 
     Shea and to the Olympic community on their loss.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Weldon) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon).


                             General Leave

  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H. Res. 340.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House Resolution 
340. I commend my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Sweeney), for introducing it. This resolution recognizes the 
enduring contributions, heroic achievements, and dedicated work of Jack 
Shea.
  Mr. Shea died on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 at the age of 91 from 
injuries in a car accident a few blocks from his home. The driver of 
the car that hit Jack Shea's car was charged with driving while 
intoxicated and other counts.
  Mr. Speaker, Jack Shea devoted his life to living the Olympic ideal 
and passing his inspiration and knowledge to younger generations. At 
22, Jack Shea won gold medals in speed skating in both the 500 meter 
and the 1,500 meter events in front of his hometown crowd at the 1932 
Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. With this accomplishment, he 
became the first double gold medalist in Winter Olympic history.
  Later Jack Shea recalled, ``When I stood on the dais to get the gold 
medal and I heard the national anthem of the United States, how proud I 
was to represent my country, my community, my father, and mother.''
  Jack Shea not only promoted the Olympic ideal of peace, he lived that 
ideal. He had a chance to win more Olympic medals at the 1936 winter 
games in Germany, but Lake Placid had a large Jewish community whose 
rabbi asked him not to take part in an event linked with Hitler's 
Germany. Jack Shea honored that request.
  Back troubles kept Mr. Shea from skating much after the 1950s. 
However, he continued to serve the Olympics and the Lake Placid area. 
He served as the town justice of North Elba, New York, from 1958 to 
1974. He then became the town's supervisor and remained in that 
position until his retirement in 1983.
  Jack Shea also served on the executive committee of the 1980 Lake 
Placid Organizing Committee. He realized his personal quest to bring 
the Winter Olympic games back to Lake Placid. When speaking about the 
winter games

[[Page H171]]

 held in 1980 at Lake Placid, Mr. Shea said, ``I felt I would like to 
accomplish one more medal, to bring the Olympics back to Lake Placid.'' 
He accomplished that goal.
  Jack Shea was a member of the first family with three generations of 
Olympians and, at 91, was the winter games' oldest living gold 
medalist. Mr. Shea and his wife of 67 years Elizabeth had four sons and 
several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His son, Jim Shea, Sr., 
was a Nordic skier in the 1964 winter games. His grandson, Jim Shea, 
Jr., will continue this tradition by competing in the skeleton event at 
the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
  The Olympic games were obviously an important part of Jack Shea's 
life. When the Olympic torch relay came through his village on its way 
to Salt Lake City, Mr. Shea carried the flame into the Olympic speed 
skating oval where he won his gold medals and ignited the cauldron. 
Three weeks later at his funeral, his grandson carried that same torch.
  As Father J. Michael Gaffney said about Jack Shea, ``Jack took life 
and made something of it. He had an impact. People knew that he lived. 
That kind of stuff you can't kill. It lives forever.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that the House recognize the dedicated 
work and outstanding accomplishments of Mr. Jack Shea today and extend 
condolences to his family. He improved the lives of many by not just 
speaking about ideals, but by living those ideals that he promoted.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the gentleman from Florida in 
consideration of this resolution. Jack Shea was an Olympic gold 
medalist, both on and off his ice skates. His death came just 17 days 
before we are about to begin another Olympic celebration, and we are 
truly saddened. However, we are here today to honor a great life and a 
great man.
  John ``Jack'' Amos Shea was born September 7, 1910, in Lake Placid, 
New York. By age 3 he was on ice skates, and by age 10 he was already 
competing in speed skating. In 1929, while he was still in high school, 
he won the North American speed skating championship. In 1930, he 
captured the title again. Two years later, he honored his hometown of 
Lake Placid by winning the 500 meter and 1,500 meter events at the Lake 
Placid Winter Olympics. He again honored Lake Placid through his 
successful efforts to have the 1980 Winter Olympics return to Lake 
Placid.
  Jack Shea's Olympic successes earned him the distinction of becoming 
the first person in Winter Olympic history to earn two gold medals. In 
fact, the Shea family was the first to have three generations of Winter 
Olympians. Jack's son Jim participated in three skiing competitions at 
the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. His grandson, Jim Shea, Jr., has 
qualified for the upcoming Salt Lake City games.
  Jack Shea's life was best summed up by his son Jim who said, ``For 70 
years, he was proud to be an Olympian. He was the chief of our family 
and loved what the Olympics stood for, to promote peace through 
friendly competition.''
  Mr. Speaker, I, too, am proud to honor this great life today, and I 
urge that we continue to work towards further reduction of driving 
while under the influence of alcohol so that others may never have 
their lives taken by a drunk driver. Yes, Jack Shea was a great life, a 
great soul, a tremendous legacy, and I am pleased to join in honoring 
him today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), the author of this 
piece of legislation.
  Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I rise today to pay 
tribute to a great man from my district and a great friend, Jack Shea. 
I do so proudly as the chief sponsor of this resolution.
  As the previous speakers have noted, Jack Shea was really an American 
treasure, as are all of the members of his family. They have 
participated so greatly and so importantly in the Olympic movement in 
the United States, not just in the United States, but throughout the 
world. Jack Shea, in 1932, in a real come-from-behind, underdog story, 
captured two Olympic speed skating gold medals, and he embodied the 
spirit and the will and the determination of the Olympic movement and 
the goodwill that is projected from that.
  It is at a very difficult time and a very tragic time that we lose 
Jack Shea. He was 91 years young, but one would not know that. Last 
week a group of Members of Congress and people from the administration 
went up to Lake Placid, New York, to participate in an annual event 
that we have, an Olympic challenge that is meant to bring people 
together, to highlight the importance of Lake Placid in the Olympic 
movement in terms of our Nation's history and what it provides for us 
in terms of character, and Jack Shea ironically was to be our principal 
speaker at our banquet on Saturday evening as we recognized the 
achievements of all of those who participated. Unfortunately, 
obviously, Jack was unable to be part of that event. But his grandson, 
Jimmy Shea, Jr., broke from his training, training that is so critical 
and important at this point, and delivered a speech on his behalf, as 
did his son Jim, with the message that we must go on, and that is how 
Jim Shea wanted it.
  So I am particularly proud and excited about the idea that we have 
been able to come forward today as a body to recognize the great 
achievements of Jack Shea. In a couple of days, Jack Shea would have 
been in Salt Lake City lighting the cauldron to begin the Winter 
Olympics. But unfortunately and sadly, that is not to be what happens 
now.
  What is to happen now, though, as his grandson Jimmy Shea will 
participate and represent our great Nation in these winter games, 
having trained so diligently and so hard and learned so many lessons 
from his grandfather and his father, also an Olympian from the 1964 
Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, that that spirit will continue forward 
and will be seen by the entire world and exemplified in the entire 
world in the competition that is going to be undertaken in Salt Lake. 
So I would call on all of our citizens to recognize the accomplishments 
of Jack Shea by rooting real hard for Jimmy Shea as he endeavors to win 
a medal in the United States Olympic skeleton team.

                              {time}  1415

  I would further call on our colleagues to support this resolution 
wholeheartedly as a symbol of our great support for a great man with a 
great life.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier).
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding me time. I 
rise to compliment our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Sweeney), for moving forward with this very important 
measure.
  It was 4 years ago this month that I had the opportunity to meet Jack 
Shea; and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Weldon) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney) 
have all talked about the fact that 7 decades ago, exactly 7 decades 
ago Jack Shea became the first American to win two gold medals. I had 
known of him and had the chance to meet him, as I said, 4 years ago 
this month.
  He had a tremendous impact on me personally. I know that many of my 
colleagues remember this well because I suffered for a while after 
having met him because it was Jack Shea who encouraged me to actually 
take the Skeleton Run at Lake Placid, and it was an experience that I 
shall never forget. And Jim Shea, Sr., Jack's son, encouraged me to 
simply say I wanted to ride the Skeleton sled to the team of men who 
were putting us on to the bob sled run, but it was Jack Shea who told 
me that I should actually take the Skeleton Run. And it was an 
unbelievable, an unbelievable experience; and one that I, as I said, 
shall never forget.
  He was an individual who inspired so many of us, and we have been 
fortunate to see that television commercial that has been running in 
which we could see how articulate and thoughtful he was.
  I remember the great interview that I saw just the other day after 
the tragic accident that took his life, when he

[[Page H172]]

talked about how he was able to shed a tear over the fact that his 
grandson would be the first of a third-generation Olympian. Four years 
ago the Skeleton Run was not established as an Olympic sport, and I 
know that it took a valiant effort on behalf of the Shea family and 
others to ensure that it would be an Olympic sport. And so I just want 
to say again, as I did the day after we got this news, that our 
thoughts and prayers go with the Shea family, although I know that it 
is not necessary, because they are so proud, so proud of their father 
and grandfather.
  I have been privileged over the past 4 years to call the Shea family 
friends, and I do want to say that I hope very much that Jimmy is a big 
winner when we see at the end of this week the Olympic games begin. And 
I know it is set for the 20th and 21st, our colleague, the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Sweeney) has told me; and I can hardly wait, whether 
I am there or watching it on television, to see that wonderful victory; 
and we know that no one, no one will be enjoying seeing Jimmy Shea take 
that Skeleton Run more than Jack Shea.
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I again congratulate the distinguished gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Sweeney) for introducing this resolution and working so 
hard to bring it to the floor. I also want to thank the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Burton), chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, 
and the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member, for 
expediting its consideration.
  I ask all Members to support this resolution to express our 
condolences on Jack Shea's death and honor his life and achievements.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 340.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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