[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H2811-H2812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GEORGE ``GODFATHER'' THOMPSON: A LIFETIME OF SERVICE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor George
``Godfather'' Thompson, one of the most remarkable men in my life and
many of the lives of individuals who have played Rattler football at
Florida A&M. Tomorrow night, friends and families and other players at
Florida A&M are going to come together to pay tribute to this wonderful
man who has done so much on behalf of so many, a man of great humility
and compassion. When he speaks of Florida A&M and Rattler football, he
gets chill bumps all over his body.
His heart is so big that those who go to Florida A&M with very little
money, very little guidance or those that have great guidance, he takes
the time to speak with them.
This Nation loves sports and for good reasons, but the right coach
and guidance and sports, particularly in team sports, are fun and
effective ways to teach young people the great lessons of life, that
discipline and hard work are necessary for success but not necessarily
guaranteed; that those who are
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trying to beat their opponents, they are not necessarily their enemies;
that winning with grace and dignity often requires as much character as
losing with grace and dignity; and that teams succeed over the long
haul when there are people working together, helping each other and
supporting each other.
These are the great lessons of George ``Godfather'' Thompson.
I played defensive end for Florida A&M University, and this is where
I met Godfather. He gave me a great, great insight on life, even though
he was just an equipment manager. He was one of great dignity and pride
and told many Rattler football players about the programs and stories.
Even though it was not his responsibility to be the counselor, he took
that responsibility as being someone to head young men in the right
direction, or point young men in the right direction.
For everyone who calls George Thompson ``Godfather,'' and we still
do, it is not a godfather that we may see on a movie or what have you,
but it is out of respect and love for someone who took the time with
everyone and opened his heart to accommodate not only their feelings
but to guide them in the right direction.
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He came to Florida A&M from Melbourne, Florida in 1951 as a student
and pursued his degree and worked on campus as an equipment manager. It
changed his life and the lives of thousands of student athletes who
passed under his mentorship. He is a walking, talking history book who
still inspires the coaches, students and players at Florida A&M. His
compliment to the university and the students is unprecedented at
Florida A&M, and maybe unprecedented in the entire Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important for us to be able to
highlight the fact that he served under five coaches there at Florida
A&M, and for many of those years great individuals passed through that
program. Rattler football is something we take very seriously down in
Florida, especially in Tallahassee, Florida where the blood runs orange
and green.
I want to thank him for his commitment and his level of
responsibility for so many individuals in our lifetime. So many young
men have moved on to do great things in this country because of his
guidance, and we honor his presence and we thank God that so many of us
had the opportunity to have him walk our way. So I not only commend
him, Mr. Speaker, but I also want this Congress to be aware that a
great American and patriot took time to not only guide individuals like
myself and others and that we are forever indebted to his presence and
to his feelings and to the work that he put forth over the years doing
common things uncommonly well.
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