[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H1676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING DAVID EMERSON HOUSEL

  (Mr. ADERHOLT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. David Emerson 
Housel on the occasion of his retirement as Auburn University Director 
of Athletics. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and 
this Nation to recognize his many accomplishments.
  David is truly a man who embodied American principles of hard work, 
dedication to one's family, and service to one's community.
  On April 1, 1994, David Housel became Auburn University's thirteenth 
Director of Athletics. Upon accepting the job, he stated that his one 
goal was to leave Auburn and the athletic department better than he 
found it. This goal was achieved.
  Mr. Speaker, I could go on much longer about this gentleman who was 
born and grew up in Pickens County, Alabama in the Fourth District but 
time does not permit this morning.
  It is a great privilege to honor David Emerson Housel for his many 
accomplishments and his enduring impact on his country, his community, 
friends and of course family. He is a man of great dignity and 
character who takes pride in the accomplishments of those he has helped 
over the years. David continues to be an inspiring role model for all 
of us and is the embodiment of the Auburn creed.
  I know I join the Auburn faithful and all Alabamians in wishing David 
God's richest blessing in his retirement.
  Mr. Speaker, today I have the privilege to honor Mr. David Emerson 
Housel on the occasion of his retirement as Auburn University's 
Director of Athletics. I am honored to stand before this body of 
Congress and this Nation to recognize his many accomplishments. He is 
truly a man who embodies the American principles of hard work, 
dedication to one's family, and service to one's community.
  David Emerson Housel was born on October 18, 1946 and grew up in the 
small, west Alabama town of Gordo. In 1956, at the age of ten, David 
attended his first Auburn University football game, a 34-7 victory over 
the University of Alabama at Legion Field in Birmingham. After the game 
he wrote letters to both schools asking for information about their 
football teams. David told the story to Mr. Neal Sims of the Birmingham 
News in the December 26, 2004 issue: ``Auburn sent a football guide, 
along with a note thanking me for being an Auburn fan. I got an Alabama 
media guide and a bill for two dollars''. As Mr. Sims reports: 
``Alabama got its two bucks. Auburn got his heart, and together school 
and devotee have been linked ever since he grew from child to man.''
  David graduated from Gordo High School in 1965 and enrolled in Auburn 
University on June 9 of the same year. He graduated with a degree in 
journalism in 1969 and, after eight months with the Huntsville News 
(during which time he maintained a mailing address in Auburn) he 
returned to his Alma Mater to accept a job in the Ticket Office, where 
he worked from 1970 to 1972. He taught journalism from 1972 to 1980 
when he rejoined the athletic staff as Assistant Sports Information 
Director, He was named Director in 1981 and Assistant Athletic Director 
in 1985.
  On April 1, 1994 David became Auburn's thirteenth Director of 
Athletics. Upon accepting the job he said, ``People may agree or 
disagree with decisions that are made, but they will never be able to 
question the reasons for those decisions. There will be no agenda other 
than the betterment of Auburn.'' His one goal was to leave Auburn and 
the athletic program better than he found it. This goal was achieved. 
Under David's leadership Auburn won seven team national championships 
(in the previous thirty-eight years Auburn had captured only one 
national championship). Auburn has won twenty-nine Southeastern 
Conference titles in the last ten years (in the previous ten seasons, 
Auburn had won eight titles). During David's tenure, the Athletic 
Department has posted its highest graduation rates ever. Also, the 
Department operated in the black financially every year, one of the 
very few Division 1A programs to do so on a consistent annual basis.
  Being the humble man that he is, David refuses to take credit for 
these accomplishments. Instead he gives credit to the Board of 
Trustees, the President, and above all, to the Auburn people. ``This is 
the work of Auburn people,'' he says. ``Whatever we have been able to 
accomplish is a direct reflection of Auburn people and their support of 
the school they love.''
  David is a past president of the SEC Sports Information Directors, a 
former chair of the NCAA Public Relations and Communications 
Committees. He served on the District III Postgraduate Scholarship 
Committee and has served as chair of the Dean's Council for Auburn's 
College of Liberal Arts. He also served as a member of the NCAA 
Championships Cabinet and the Executive Committee of the Southeastern 
Conference.
  He serves on the Board of Directors for Auburn Bank, the Auburn 
Wesley Foundation, the Lee County Red Cross and is a member of the 
Birmingham Pledge Advisory Board. He is an honorary member of the 
Auburn Football Lettermen Club and the University Singers. He is a 
member of the Sports Information Directors' Hall of Fame, the Tony 
Brandino Hall of Fame and the Gordo Athletics Hall of Fame. He is also 
an award winning free lance writer and has written two books, 
``Saturdays to Remember'' and ``From the Desk of David Housel, A 
Collection of Auburn Stories.''
  In 1982 the Alabama Chapter of the National Football Foundation 
recognized David with their Contribution to Amateur Football Award. He 
has also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Walter Camp 
Foundation of New Haven, Connecticut and the Birmingham Monday Morning 
Quarterback Club for his career contributions to the sport of college 
football.
  Of all of David's accomplishments, perhaps his greatest achievement 
was convincing the former Susan McIntosh to marry him. Susan is a 
retired third grade teacher at Wright's Mill Road Elementary School in 
Auburn and they were married on June 15, 1985. David and Susan are 
faithful members of Auburn First United Methodist Church.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to honor David Emerson Housel 
for his many accomplishments and his enduring impact on his country, 
community, friends and family. He is a man of great dignity and 
character who takes pride in the accomplishments of those he has helped 
over the years. David continues to be an inspiring role model for all 
of us and is the embodiment of the Auburn Creed. I know I join the 
Auburn faithful in wishing David God's richest blessings in his 
retirement.

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