[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2008-E2009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING EMMIT J. SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 13, 2002

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
honor a legendary athlete, philanthropist and role model, Dallas 
Cowboys running back Emmitt J. Smith III, for his exceptional 
achievements on and off the playing field.
  On Sunday, October 27, 2002, Smith made history by becoming the 
National Football League's all-time leading rusher, surpassing late 
Chicago Bears great Walter Payton. With a powerful, 11-yard carry 
against the Seattle Seahawks, Smith pushed his career total in rushing 
yardage to the 16,728 mark, moving him two yards ahead of the record 
that Payton (16,726) set in 1987.
  However, his achievement as the NFL's all-time top rusher is just one 
of many accomplishments that Smith can boast. Throughout his 13-year 
career in professional football, he has compiled an outstanding resume 
of accomplishments as a star running back and valued teammate. He has 
led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles while also claiming 
Super Bowl MVP honors. In 1993, he won the National Football League 
Most Valuable Player Award.
  Smith is the winner of four NFL rushing titles and is the first 
player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive 
seasons. He is also the NFL's career rushing touchdown leader. What's 
more, he has accomplished all of these goals while wearing a Dallas 
Cowboys uniform, making him a hometown hero for the Thirtieth 
Congressional District of Texas and the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area.
  His performances on the field are only overshadowed by one thing: his 
incredible public service off the field. Smith has become

[[Page E2009]]

Dallas's goodwill ambassador to the world through his dedication to 
improving the lives of young people everywhere.
  His work to aid programs for youth and children in a range of areas 
from student mentoring to anti-drug education to physical fitness is 
impressive. Among the numerous activities Smith has championed 
throughout his career, he has served as the Cowboys' United Way 
spokesman and supported Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Kidney 
Foundation, Oak Cliff (TX) Little League, Buckner Children's Home of 
Texas, The Salvation Army, American Lung Association, the Battered and 
Abused Children's Foundation, B.A.D (Boxers Against Drugs) and Theater 
Arts for Youth. He has also worked with children through the Make-A-
Wish Foundation, hosting many visits at the Cowboys' Valley Ranch 
practice facility during the season.
  Smith also co-founded the Open Doors Foundation, a not-for-profit 
that supports organizations and faith-based programs to provide 
educational, motivational and financial services to today's youth, with 
a special emphasis on narrowing the digital divide. In June 2002, he 
was appointed by President Bush to serve on the President's Council on 
Physical Fitness and Sports and educate millions of American children 
about the importance of staying healthy.
  Mr. Speaker, for all of his record-breaking, awe-inspiring athletic 
achievements, for all his selfless work in the community to serve as a 
role model for youth and to help those less fortunate, and for his time 
spent as an outstanding husband, father, and citizen, I rise to salute 
Emmitt Smith. He is a Texas treasure and a national icon, and I join 
the legions of Dallas Cowboy fans in congratulating him and his family 
on this momentous occasion. Go Cowboys!

                          ____________________