[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 121 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H6981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CURT GOWDY POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 5224) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 350 Uinta Drive in Green River, 
Wyoming, as the ``Curt Gowdy Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5224

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CURT GOWDY POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 350 Uinta Drive in Green River, Wyoming, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Curt Gowdy Post Office 
     Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Curt Gowdy Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Van 
Hollen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5224 would designate the Post Office building in 
Green River, Wyoming, as the Curt Gowdy Post Office Building. Nicknamed 
``The Cowboy,'' sports fans across the country in the 1960s and 1970s 
turned to hear Gowdy's commentary on baseball, football, and college 
basketball games. He was the number one announcer at NBC Sports during 
the pre-cable television era; and he was known for his objective, laid-
back style. In fact, one of his most career-defining moments came 
almost 46 years ago today, when he called the Ted Williams' final at-
bat in the major leagues.
  I urge all Members to join me in honoring the life and contributions 
of Curt Gowdy by supporting the passage of H.R. 5224.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. It is appropriate we 
recognize Curt Gowdy in this way. We know he was the voice of the Red 
Sox, as well as the announcer on many other sports events.

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, let me join in the moment of remembrance of 
Curt Gowdy. I had a chance at Christmastime to spend the evening with 
Curt and his family in Palm Beach. I have known the Gowdy family for 
many, many years. As some know, he was the voice of the Red Sox. My 
godfather, Jimmy Piersall, played for the Red Sox back in the fifties.
  When the Red Sox won the World Series, I asked the White House if I 
could bring a few guests, one being Jimmy Piersall, the other Dom 
DiMaggio, both constituents from Florida, and, of course, Curt Gowdy. 
Curt's wife, Jerre, called me the day of the White House celebration 
and said Curt wasn't doing well, but he would have loved to join in the 
honor of greeting the Red Sox at the White House.
  From a personal aside, I had many, many years to interact with Curt 
Gowdy. He was a phenomenal man, a humble, humble, wonderful, generous 
man. The Boy Scouts of America, I could name numerous charities where 
Mr. Gowdy went out of his way not only to lend his beautiful voice, but 
his integrity and his name, which was known universally.
  It is just an incredible honor that you all have chosen his wonderful 
State of Wyoming, which was something we discussed on one of his last 
nights on Earth. We discussed Wyoming, fly fishing and games gone by 
and his struggles at that time with leukemia. His doctor happened to be 
there that night.
  Curt never lost his enthusiasm or zest for life. Even in the days 
before he was to pass this godly Earth, he never lost his love of this 
country, his love of our Nation, his love of the pastime of baseball, 
and to the very end, love and devotion to his family. I salute Mr. 
Gowdy and appreciate the recognition he is being provided today.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for his eloquent 
remarks. Curt Gowdy will always be a part of my sports memories as a 
youth. I think this is a fitting tribute, and I urge my colleagues to 
adopt it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5224.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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