[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 87 (Wednesday, June 26, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H4027-H4028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1745
            HONORING THE LIFE OF JOHN FRANCIS ``JACK'' BUCK

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution (H. Res. 455) honoring the life of John Francis ``Jack'' 
Buck, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I 
will not object; but I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Sullivan) to explain the resolution.
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 455 introduced by the 
distinguished gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) honors the life of 
John Francis ``Jack'' Buck. The resolution is co-sponsored by the 
entire House delegation from Missouri along with other Members.
  For nearly 50 years, Jack Buck was known as the voice of the St. 
Louis Cardinals. He became one of the most respected sports 
broadcasters in the industry and an institution among baseball fans 
everywhere.
  A decorated veteran of World War II, Jack Buck began his broadcasting 
career in 1948 while attending Ohio State University where he was a 
play-by-play announcer for football, basketball and baseball. He was 
hired by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954 and began his 48 year career 
of announcing Cardinals baseball on KMOX radio. He brought baseball to 
life to millions of fans throughout the Midwest during his tenure in 
the booth. Jack Buck announced 8 World Series, 17 Super Bowls, numerous 
baseball All Star and play-off games, and many other major sporting 
events. He has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Pro 
Football Hall of Fame, and American Sportscasters Association Hall of 
Fame and the Radio Hall of Fame.
  Jack Buck was a leader away from the stadium as well. He spent over 
30 years as the campaign chairman for the St. Louis chapter of the 
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for which he helped raise more than $30 
million to fight the disease.
  On June 18, 2002, Jack Buck passed away after a distinguished career 
in broadcasting and a long life in which he touched the lives of 
millions of Americans. Mr. Speaker, for these reasons I urge the 
adoption of House Resolution 455.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Further reserving the right to object, Mr. 
Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from St. Louis, Missouri (Mr. Clay), 
for whatever comments or remarks he might have.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis) for yielding. I also thank my friend from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Sullivan) for speaking on behalf of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 455 honors the life of John Francis 
``Jack'' Buck, one of the true giants of sports broadcasting and a St. 
Louis icon. Jack Buck, the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals for nearly 
50 years, sadly passed away last week at the age of 77 after a long 
battle with lung cancer and Parkinson's disease. He was one of the most 
respected and admired baseball broadcasters to have ever sat behind a 
mike, and his passing signals the passing of the golden age of 
baseball.
  Jack Buck came to prominence in the 1950's, a time when baseball and 
radio were not simply intertwined, they were inseparable. In the 1950's 
and early 1960's, radio was the primary source for baseball for most 
Americans. And on any given night, Jack Buck on KMOX radio in St. Louis 
could be heard throughout middle America, from the upper regions of 
Wisconsin, all the way down to the Deep South. Like many St. Louisians, 
I grew up listening to Jack Buck broadcast St. Louis Cardinals games. 
It was through his broadcasts that I and millions of other baseball 
fans first learned the intricacies and the beauty of the game of 
baseball.
  His friendly voice, his baseball knowledge, and his sense of humor 
enabled us to mentally picture the action on the field and were 
instrumental in fostering our love for the game of baseball. In the 
words of Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Jack Buck 
provided ``the soundtrack for St. Louis summers'' for 48 years. He was 
there in our backyards as we gathered around our grills and picnic 
tables; and he was there on our porches, under an evening sky. He was 
there in our cars, always the friendly travel companion along for the 
ride; and he was there under our pillows late at night as countless 
kids smuggled their radios into bed to stay up and listen to a distant 
game from the west coast. He was part of the family.
  He introduced us to all the Cardinal stars, Stan Musial to Bob Gibson 
to Ozzie Smith to Mark McGwire to Albert Pujols. His words were the 
link that connected them all. He was there at Sportsman Park and he was 
there at Bush Stadium. Jack Buck was a beloved figure in baseball and 
an institution to fans of the St. Louis Cardinals. His passing has 
brought great sorrow to Red Bird fans across the country and we all 
mourn our loss and the Buck family's loss.
  I also want to extend my personal condolences to the Buck family. 
Jack Buck is rightfully considered to be one of the greatest baseball 
announcers of all time joining Vin Scully, Red Barber, Mel Allen, Ernie 
Harwell, and Harry Caray. I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record an untitled poem that Jack Buck 
wrote and read September 17, 2001, at the resumption of baseball 
following the September 11 attacks.

                            Jack Buck's Poem

     Since this nation was founded under God, more than 200 years 
           ago,
     We've been the bastion of freedom . . .
     The light which keeps the free world aglow.
     We do not covet the possessions of others, we are blessed 
           with the bounty we share.
     We have rushed to help other nations . . . anything . . . 
           anytime . . . anywhere.
     War is just not our nature . . . we won't start, but we will 
           end the fight.
     If we are involved we shall be resolved to protect what we 
           know is right.
     We've been challenged by a cowardly foe who strikes and then 
           hides from our view.
     With one voice we say there's no choice today, there is only 
           one Thing to do.
     Everyone is saying the same thing and praying that we end 
           these senseless moments we are living.
     As our fathers did before, we shall win this unwanted war.
     And our children will enjoy the future, we'll be giving.

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Further reserving the right to object, Mr. 
Speaker, let me just agree with the gentleman from St. Louis, Missouri 
(Mr. Clay). Of course, St. Louis has always been a tremendous town for 
athletics. I spent 2 years as a young person living in St. Louis, and I 
learned all of these penalties that he mentioned. I must confess I was 
a great Red Schoendienst and Harry Caray fan and Ray Jablonski. I think 
they used to call him Jabbo. It is a great place to be and certainly 
Jack Buck added tremendously to the aura of St. Louis. Mr. Speaker, I 
urge passage of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

[[Page H4028]]

                              H. Res. 455

       Whereas for nearly 50 years, John Francis ``Jack'' Buck was 
     known as the ``Voice of the St. Louis Cardinals'' to 
     generations of baseball fans, one of the most respected 
     sports broadcasters in the industry, and a beloved 
     institution to all St. Louis Cardinals fans;
       Whereas Jack Buck's distinctive voice and his signature 
     exclamation ``That's a winner'' following each Cardinals 
     victory were familiar to baseball fans across the United 
     States;
       Whereas Jack Buck was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 
     1924 and was a decorated veteran of World War II;
       Whereas Jack Buck began his broadcasting career in 1948 
     while attending Ohio State University, where he was the play-
     by-play announcer for football, basketball, and baseball;
       Whereas in 1954, Jack Buck was hired by the St. Louis 
     Cardinals, joined Harry Caray in the booth at Sportsman's 
     Park, and began his 48 years of broadcasting Cardinals 
     baseball on KMOX radio;
       Whereas in 1970, Jack Buck was made the lead play-by-play 
     announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals and he brought baseball 
     to life for millions of fans throughout the Midwest;
       Whereas Jack Buck covered some of the greatest moments in 
     baseball history, including Lou Brock's record-setting 118th 
     stolen base, Bob Gibson's incredible 1968 season, and Mark 
     McGwire's record-breaking 70th home run in 1998;
       Whereas in 1960, Jack Buck was the play-by-play announcer 
     for the first televised American Football League game and 
     worked AFL broadcasts for three years;
       Whereas Jack Buck was the announcer for one of professional 
     football's most famous games, the 1967 NFL Championship game, 
     dubbed the ``Ice Bowl'', between the Green Bay Packers and 
     the Dallas Cowboys;
       Whereas Jack Buck was the radio voice of Monday Night 
     Football from 1978 to 1996;
       Whereas Jack Buck was the lead announcer for 8 World 
     Series, 17 Super Bowls, numerous baseball All-Star and 
     National League playoff games, and other major sporting 
     events, including professional bowling;
       Whereas Jack Buck has been inducted into 11 different Halls 
     of Fame, including the Baseball Hall of Fame (1987), the Pro 
     Football Hall of Fame (1996), the American Sportscasters 
     Association Hall of Fame (1990), the Radio Hall of Fame 
     (1995), and the St. Louis Walk of Fame (1991), and has been 
     the recipient of numerous lifetime achievement broadcasting 
     awards;
       Whereas for more than 30 years Jack Buck was the campaign 
     chairman for the St. Louis chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis 
     Foundation, for which he helped raise more than $30,000,000 
     for research to find a cure for the disease; and
       Whereas on June 18, 2002, Jack Buck passed away after a 
     long and distinguished career in broadcasting in which he 
     touched the lives of millions of sports fans across the 
     United States: Now, therefore, be it

         Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the 
     life of John Francis ``Jack'' Buck.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________