[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 73 (Thursday, June 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E978]]
 A TRIBUTE TO UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LEGEND PAUL GIEL: TWO-SPORT ALL-
        AMERICAN, UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND BELOVED HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 2002

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a true Minnesota 
sports legend, devoted family person, and wonderful friend--Paul Giel--
who passed away suddenly on May 22, 2002.
  Paul Giel--All-American football and baseball player at the 
University of Minnesota from 1951 to 1954; Major League Baseball 
pitcher from 1954 to 1961; Sports broadcaster and director for WCCO 
Radio for eight years; Athletic Director at the University of Minnesota 
for 18 years; and Vice President of Public Affairs for the Minneapolis 
Heart Institute the past 12 years.
  As great as Paul Giel's athletic and professional achievements were, 
Paul was an even greater person.
  Legendary Minneapolis Star Tribune sportswriter Sid Hartman said it 
well, ``If there ever were a role model for the young athlete in high 
school or college, it had to be Paul Giel. Success on the field only 
made him a better person off it.''
  WCCO's Ray Christensen,, our state's beloved sports announcer who 
started doing football broadcasts in 1951--when Paul Giel was a 
sophomore--said this about Paul Giel: ``Paul was a winner in every way, 
but most important, I think he was a winner as a person. When you earn 
so many rewards as a player, as an athletic director and in other ways 
in sports, sometimes you forget to be a person. And Paul never 
forgot.''
  Bom and raised in Winona in southeastern Minnesota, Paul Giel was a 
5-11, 185-pound single-wing tallback at the University of Minnesota. He 
ran and passed for 4,110 yards and 35 touchdowns and finished a close 
second to Notre Dame's Johnny Lattner in the Heisman Trophy voting his 
senior year.
  Paul Giel is a member of the National Football Foundation's College 
Hall of Fame. He was a two-time All-American in football and the Most 
Valuable Player in the Big Ten.
  In baseball, Paul Giel was also an All-American. He won 21 college 
games from 1952 to 1954, and he pitched for four major league teams 
from 1954 to 1961.
  For 18 years starting in 1972, Paul Giel was the Athletic Director at 
the University of Minnesota. He was the man who hired Herb Brooks as 
hockey coach, and Herbie recently recalled Paul's words when he was 
hired: ``Listen, I'm just new to this job. I don't know rules and 
regulations, everything else,'' he said, ``but do what's right. Don't 
break any rules. Do what's right.''
  ``People believed in Paul Giel,'' said Herb Brooks. ``Parents 
believed in him. Players believed in Paul Giel.''
  Mr. Speaker, all Minnesotans believed in Paul Giel, and their faith 
in him was always rewarded. Paul Giel was a man of great character and 
principle, especially when it came to the place he loved more than any 
other, the University of Minnesota.
  ``I don't think I've ever known anyone who cared more or who was more 
loyal to the University of Minnesota than Paul Giel,'' said Tom Moe, 
University of Minnesota Athletic Director. ``He was a tremendous 
friend. I just had tremendous admiration for him. I'm sick. It's a sad 
day for Minnesotans.''
  Yes, Mr. Speaker, it's a sad day to lose a Minnesota legend, our 
humble hero and All-American in every way he lived his life.
  Our thoughts and prayers go out to Paul's loving wife, Nancy, their 
three wonderful children, Paul Jr., Gerilyn, Tommy, their spouses and 
his six grandchildren. Paul also dearly loved his mother and father-in-
law, Colonel and Mrs. Tom Davis, as well as his sister Ruth and brother 
Edward.
  Paul Giel's legacy will continue to live in the hearts of every 
Minnesotan who knew and loved him.
  Thanks ``Old Number 10'' for all the great memories and for always 
making Minnesota proud.

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