[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 JOE LOUIS . . . REMEMBERING THE LEGEND

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 27, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, as the 25th anniversary of the death of 
boxer Joe Louis approaches on April 12, 2006, I feel it quite 
appropriate to reminisce about the outstanding career accomplishments 
and contributions he made to society during his lifetime.
  Joe Louis Barrow, son of an Alabama Sharecropper was 10 years old 
when he moved to Detroit, Michigan with his mother and stepfather in 
1924. He developed his physique by delivering 50-pound blocks of ice as 
a teenager. At 18, he learned that a boxing club paid fighters in food, 
so he fought to win $7 worth of food in a match where he was knocked 
down seven times in two rounds. He vowed never to fight again.
  A short time later a professional fighter, Holman Williams, gave him 
some lessons and persuaded him to enter the Golden Gloves competition. 
In 1933, his then manager, John Roxborough, shortened his name to 
simply Joe Louis. He went on to win 50 of 54 amateur fights, 41 by 
knockout, and was AAU national light heavyweight champion in 1934 when 
he was 19 years old.
  Known as the ``Brown Bomber'' Louis turned professional in 1935. He 
won his first eight fights, but finally lost to Max Schmelling, a 
German who was a key part of Hitler's ``Aryan Superiority''. Joe Louis 
was granted a much sought after rematch with Schmelling on June 27, 
1938. The fight resulted in a first round knock-out of Schmelling, two 
minutes and four seconds into the round. This feat dealt a devastating 
blow to Hitler's Nazi Germany.
  Louis was very popular among whites as well as blacks. This fondness 
was attributed to his very quiet and modest demeanor. His popularity 
peaked after he knocked out Max Schmelling, as Schmelling was viewed by 
many as a tool of Hitler's Nazism.
  Louis defended his title 25 times in 5 years, knocking out 25 of his 
opponents. He entered the Army in 1942 and was used basically as a 
good-will ambassador. He appeared in a movie, The Negro Soldier, in an 
attempt to boost morale among black fighting men.
  After World War II ended, he defended his championship five more 
times. Louis announced his retirement in 1949 but his obligation to pay 
more than $1 million in back taxes forced him back into the ring. His 
last fight resulted in a knock-out by champion Rocky Marciano in the 
8th round on October 26, 1951.
  Louis won 67 professional bouts, 53 of them by knock-out, and lost 3 
bouts, 2 by knockout.
  In 1969 ill health overtook him and after collapsing on the street in 
New York City he was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. Upon his 
release, he became a greeter at a Las Vegas casino. After attending a 
Larry Holmes/Trevor Berbick boxing match, Louis went into cardiac 
arrest and died at age 67 on April 12, 1981.
  Joe Louis had an exceptional and fascinating boxing career filled 
with many wonderful moments. He was a ground breaking world renowned 
athlete who broke racial barriers at a time when that was difficult to 
do. He reigned as the U.S. Heavyweight champion for a record 12 years 
and most of all he opened doors for such future legends as Muhammad 
Ali, Jackie Robinson and Sugar Ray Robinson.
  Even though 25 years have gone by since Joe Louis passed away, 
History will always continue to portray him as one of the best prize 
fighters of all time.

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