[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S9227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MR. BOB HAYES

 Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to mark the 
passing of a truly exceptional friend and athlete, Mr. Bob Hayes. On 
September 18, 2002, the State of Florida and the world lost a 
trailblazing athlete who broke records on the track field and set the 
standard for speed and agility in the National Football League.
  Bob was a native of Jacksonville, where he attended Gilbert High 
School. While at Gilbert High, Bob displayed his athletic talents on 
the football and baseball fields, and on the basketball court. The 
honors he won in these athletic pursuits afforded him the opportunity 
to attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University on 
scholarship, where he played half-back and returned kicks for legendary 
coach Jake Gaither. In his illustrious career as a FAMU Rattler, he led 
the team in kick-off returns, held the team's touchdown record in 1963, 
and averaged over 26 yards per punt return in 1962 and 1963. In his 
senior season, Bob became the first African-American to play in the 
Senior, North-South, Bowl, a game in which he caught a touchdown pass 
from former NFL-great Joe Namath and was also named the South's Most 
Valuable Player.
  Bob was also a premier track star. In his junior year at Florida A&M, 
Bob competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games. He earned the title ``World's 
Fastest Human'' for record-breaking performances in which he won the 
100 meters in a world-record time of 10.5 seconds and anchored the 400-
meter relay, finishing in 39.0 seconds. Both performances earned him 
Olympic Gold medals. His performance in the 400-meter is widely 
regarded as the greatest relay leg in track history.
  In 1963, the Dallas Cowboys drafted Bob in the seventh round as a 
receiver. As a rookie, Bob had 46 catches for 1,003 yards and 12 
touchdowns. Several past NFL players, including Roger Staubach and 
Calvin Hill, have commented on how Bob's speed and agility forced the 
NFL to begin to design defenses to counter his phenomenal plays. 
Indeed, Bob established the standard, in terms of speed and quickness, 
which present players now emulate. Bob spent 10 years in Dallas, where 
he was part of two Super Bowl teams. At the end of his career, Bob had 
371 catches for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns, still a Cowboys 
receiving record.
  At his death, Bob remains the only athlete to have won a Super Bowl 
ring and Olympic Gold Medals. His amazing achievements on both the 
football and track field truly give meaning to his nickname-"The 
Bullet''. He is enshrined in the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame and 
similar Halls of Fame in Florida, Texas and at Florida A&M. In 
September 2001, Bob was inducted as the 11th member of the Cowboys' 
Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium.
  Bob's achievements stand as a testament to hard work, dedication and 
perseverance. In his later years, he sought to pass these ideals on to 
aspiring high school track stars through the Bob Hayes Invitational 
Track and Field Meet. Truly, it can be said that he touched many lives 
and inspired future generations of athletes. While it is with great 
sadness that I mark his passing, I am happy to recognize Bob's legacy 
for the great State of Florida and the entire world.

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