[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.
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