[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H5178-H5179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WILLIAM ``BOO'' BARTON

  (Mr. HENSARLING asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute a young man from 
Groesbeck, Texas, William ``Boo'' Barton, a 17-year-old high school 
junior with an incredible athletic gift, an incredible story and an 
incredibly big heart, as big as the State of Texas. Last September 
while playing for the Groesbeck Goats football team, Boo Barton 
suffered a tragic injury on the field. Shortly afterwards, doctors were 
forced to amputate his left leg 4 inches below the knee. The doctors 
told Boo with luck he would be able to walk, but

[[Page H5179]]

Boo and his track coach, Phil LaFountaine, had bigger dreams. Three 
months after being fitted with a prosthetic leg, with family, friends 
and teammates looking on, Boo Barton defied all the odds by running the 
100-meter race at the Groesbeck Goat relays. His time: 14.06. Some may 
say that was not the winning time that day, but I and everyone in the 
stands know better.
  Mr. Speaker, Boo Barton is an inspiring example to all of us. He 
shows us with the power of positive thinking and persistence through 
adversity, you can still dream bold dreams in America.

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