[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF RAY MEYER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 28, 2006

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with sadness to offer my 
condolences to the family and friends of Ray Meyer, who passed away 
recently at the age of 92. Ray Meyer was a loving husband and father, 
as well as the face of college basketball in Chicago since 1942.
  Best known as the legendary head coach of the DePaul University Blue 
Demons basketball team from 1942 until his retirement in 1984, Coach 
Meyer's success while roaming the sidelines rates him among the 
greatest coaches college basketball has ever seen.
  Meyer led the Blue Demons to 37 winning seasons and 724 overall 
victories, and his teams played in postseason tournaments 21 times. He 
mentored legendary players like George Mikan, Mark Aguirre and Terry 
Cummings. The entire country was captivated by Coach Meyer's team and 
his personality as the Blue Demons made a historic run to the Final 
Four in 1979. He subsequently led a series of number one ranked teams 
in the early 1980s and was enshrined in basketball's Hall of Fame 
before he even finished his coaching career.
  Although these feats are impressive, he made an even bigger impact on 
the hearts and minds of his players, colleagues and fans. His grin and 
compassionate personality were among his most memorable traits. He 
taught his players important lessons about life as well as basketball.
  In addition to being a dedicated coach, Ray Meyer was also a loving 
family man. His late wife had such a large impact on his life and 
DePaul University that the Blue Demons now play on Ray & Marge Meyer 
Court. His sons Tom and Bob played under his tutelage, and he groomed 
his son Joey to be his successor in 1984, where he would remain head 
coach until 1997. In the 55 years from Ray Meyer's first game as coach 
through the last Blue Demons game with Joey Meyer at the helm, Ray 
Meyer attended each of the 1,467 games they played.
  Mr. Speaker, Coach Meyer left an indelible mark on everyone he 
touched. His oversized personality captivated generations of 
Chicagoans. The DePaul community, the city of Chicago, and all of 
basketball will always remember him.

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