[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 69 (Friday, May 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING PETE BEIDEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2002

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Pete 
Beiden on the occasion of the dedication of a statue in his honor at 
Beiden Field at California State University, Fresno. Beiden served as 
the baseball coach at Fresno State from 1948-1969 and the field was 
renamed for him in 1972.
  Coach Beiden had an impressive resume with a record of 602-268 in his 
tenure at Fresno State with winning seasons every year and 10 
Conference Championships. Pete was inducted into the Fresno Athletic 
Hall of Fame in 1964, the College Coaches Hall of Fame in 1972, and the 
Fresno State University Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Coach Beiden's 
contributions to baseball extended well beyond Fresno State. His 
extensive understanding of the fundamentals of the game and his talent 
for teaching the skills to young athletes enabled Pete to reap a 
harvest of gifted ball players, coaches, and entire teams. His legacy 
lives on in those he coaches and mentored.
  Coach Beiden's legacy goes beyond the baseball diamond, however. Pete 
is also, and perhaps best, remembered as a devoted husband, father, and 
friend. He was a farmer who loved his ranch, a reader who loved 
history, and a music lover. Pete's wife, Martha, died in 1997 after 69 
wonderful years of marriage. Their son, Roland, a renowned pianist and 
teacher, died in 1980.
  Coach Beiden passed away on March 6, 2000. A statue, sculpted by 
William Behrends, will be unveiled at Beiden Field on May 25, 2002, 
prior to the Fresno State baseball game.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Coach Pete Beiden and thank 
Fresno State for commemorating his life and service. I invite my 
colleagues to join me in honoring Coach Beiden for his service to 
baseball and his community.

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