[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 83 (Monday, May 21, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H5489-H5493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE, LEGACY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LAMAR HUNT
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 53) recognizing the life of Lamar Hunt
and his outstanding contributions to the Kansas City Chiefs, the
National Football League, and the United States.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 53
Whereas Lamar Hunt was born on August 2, 1932, in El
Dorado, Arkansas;
Whereas Lamar Hunt graduated from Southern Methodist
University with a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1956, and
was a 3 year reserve end on the varsity football team and was
a distinguished alumni and avid supporter;
Whereas at the age of 27, Lamar Hunt created the American
Football League and founded the Dallas Texans, which were
later renamed the Kansas City Chiefs when Hunt relocated the
team in 1963;
Whereas for 40 years Lamar Hunt owned and was a vital
participant in the Kansas City Chiefs Football Club and
created the Championship Game between the American Football
League and the National Football League that became known as
the Super Bowl, a moniker Hunt coined;
Whereas under the leadership of Lamar Hunt, the Kansas City
Chiefs won the American Football League Championship game in
1962, 1966, and 1969, and won the National Football League
Super Bowl IV Championship in 1970;
Whereas Lamar Hunt, a man of unwavering and deep humility,
played an important role in the design, ongoing development,
and direction of the modern-day National Football League and
served as the driving force behind the merger of the American
and National football leagues in 1970;
Whereas Lamar Hunt advocated for innovative and progressive
changes to enhance football in the National Football League,
including the installation of the 2-point conversion option
for professional football, names on the backs of the
uniforms, that the trophy given to the winner of the Super
Bowl be named in honor of the late and revered Vince
Lombardi, and an additional Thanksgiving game be added to the
National Football League schedule;
Whereas Lamar Hunt's biggest influence on the professional
football over the years was his quiet, yet persuasive voice
of reason;
Whereas Lamar Hunt's name is rightfully mentioned alongside
other legends in professional football history for his
commitment to putting the betterment of the professional
football leagues ahead of any potential individual gain, few
individuals helped change the face of American football for
the better than this quiet Texan;
Whereas Lamar Hunt, as the founder of the American Football
League, helped pave the way for much of the modern growth of
professional football;
Whereas possibly the greatest tribute to his contributions
to the sport was the naming by the American Football League
of the Lamar Hunt Trophy, which is presented annually to the
champion of the American Football Conference;
Whereas Lamar Hunt was also one of the founding investors
in the 6-time World Champion Chicago Bulls of the National
Basketball Association and was the owner of 13 distinctive
championship rings from 5 different professional sports
associations, including the American Football League and
National Football League, Major League Soccer, National
Basketball Association, North American Soccer League, and the
United States Soccer ``Open Cup'';
Whereas in total, Lamar Hunt was selected to 8 Halls of
Fame, including the United States Soccer Hall of Fame in
1982, the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993, the
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, the Texas Sports Hall
of Fame in 1984, the Texas Business Hall of Fame 1997, and
the Kansas City Business Hall of Fame 2004;
Whereas Lamar Hunt was the first American Football League
figure to be enshrined into the Professional Football Hall of
Fame in 1972;
Whereas in 1981 Lamar Hunt was inducted into the National
Football League Alumni Association's prestigious Order of the
Leather Helmet and in February of 1993, and received the
Francis J. ``Reds'' Bagnell Award from the Maxwell Football
Club of Philadelphia for continuing positive contributions to
the game;
Whereas in 1991 the 91-year-old U.S. Open Cup was renamed
the ``Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.'';
Whereas that same year Lamar Hunt received the U.S. Soccer
Federation Hall of Fame Medal of Honor, joining former U.S.
Soccer President Alan Rothenberg as the only other individual
to earn that prestigious distinction;
Whereas in 2005 the U.S. Soccer Foundation honored Lamar
Hunt with its Lifetime Achievement Award;
Whereas Lamar Hunt brought smiles to millions of children
who walked through the gates of his twin theme parks in
Kansas City, Worlds and Oceans of Fun;
Whereas in addition to his outstanding leadership of the
Kansas City Chiefs, Lamar Hunt served his community
throughout his lifetime through philanthropic endeavors and
the donation of his time in both Kansas City and Dallas;
Whereas 2 of the projects closest to Lamar Hunt included
Southern Methodist University, his alma mater where he served
as co-chairman of the university's campaign that raised
$60,000,000 to build a new 32,000-seat football stadium that
opened in 2000 and to which he and his wife Norma donated
$5,000,000; and the Heart of a Champion Foundation, a
nonprofit foundation that he launched in 2001;
Whereas Lamar Hunt was also a supporter of the Nelson-
Atkins Museum in Kansas City, and was a benefactor of the
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Museum of Art, and a
host of causes related to children's charities, education,
and fine arts; and
Whereas on December 13, 2006, Lamar Hunt succumbed to
cancer at the Dallas Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas
at the age of 74: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives, on this
occasion less than one month after the death of Lamar Hunt--
(1) expresses its deepest condolences to Lamar Hunt's wife
of 42 years, Norma, his 4 children, Lamar Jr., Sharon Munson,
Clark, and Daniel, and his 14 grandchildren; and
(2) recognizes the outstanding contributions that Lamar
Hunt made to the Kansas City Chiefs, the National Football
League, and the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such
time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas City, Missouri,
Representative Emanuel Cleaver, the sponsor of this legislation.
Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, the National Football League, the American
sports community and the business leadership in Western Missouri lost a
true treasure on December 13, 2006, when the Kansas City Chiefs
founder, Lamar Hunt, peacefully passed away at Presbyterian Hospital in
Dallas, Texas, at the age of 74.
Mr. Speaker, this great American is survived by his wife, Norma, and
their four children, some of whom are here with us today.
Lamar Hunt is recognized as one of the greatest sportsmen in American
history. He served as the guiding force behind the formation of both
the American Football League and the Kansas City Chiefs franchise. Hunt
served as a positive influence on the game of football for 47 years,
dating back to his conception of the American Football League in 1959.
He was the first AFL figure to be enshrined into the Pro Football
Hall of Fame. This was a remarkable feat, if you consider that he had
become involved in the game just 13 years earlier.
It was Lamar Hunt who served as the catalyst, who brought together a
group of people whimsically known as the ``Foolish Club.'' He was able
to convince eight men to put money up to start a football league that
no one thought could survive. This was truly an impossible dream. But
the fledgling league took foot on the field for the 1960 season; and on
June 8, 1966, the AFL-NFL merger was announced by the NFL Commissioner,
Pete Rozelle. On January 15, Lamar Hunt's Kansas City Chiefs were
participating in the first Super Bowl.
It is worth noting that when the owners met after the merger and
began to discuss this football game that would be the bowl game of bowl
games, far more noteworthy than the Rose Bowl or the Cotton Bowl or the
Sugar Bowl, it was Lamar Hunt who said the bowl game of bowl games
should be called the Super Bowl, and thus was born what is now one of
the most watched events on this planet.
Before there was a player, coach or general manager in the league,
there was Lamar Hunt. There was the late Patriots' owner William
Sullivan who remarked at Hunt's Hall of Fame induction ceremony that
``Hunt was the cornerstone, the integrity, of the league. Without him,
there would have been no AFL.''
[[Page H5490]]
Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to serve as Mayor of Kansas City
for 8 years. But even before that, during my time on the City Council,
I had the great pleasure of meeting and working with Lamar Hunt. Over
the years, I can tell you that I have met many, many men and women,
some heads of state. I have met kings and one queen. I have never met a
person on this Earth yet who had the humility of Lamar Hunt. I have
never seen a man who did so much, who accomplished great things at the
level of Lamar Hunt, who could walk around this Capitol and no one
would know him because he would be opening doors for everyone and
trying to serve.
In the tradition of my religion, humility is held perhaps higher than
any other characteristic. In fact, in my tradition, the great prophets
all praised people with humility, and the pharisees, who did not have
humility, who praised themselves, were denounced.
Lamar Hunt was an innovator. For years and years he advocated the
two-point conversion in the NFL. Finally, in 1994, the owners bought
into the concept, which is why today there is a two-point conversion.
This man would create things in his mind, and he had the ability to
share those things.
I attribute, as well as many other African Americans, Lamar Hunt with
the credit for African Americans moving into all realms of pro
football. Before the AFL, there were only a few African Americans
playing in the NFL. For a lot of the young people who watch TV today,
they would probably find that somewhat amusing. But it was quite
possible in the 1950s and even the early 1960s to watch an NFL game and
see maybe one or two and, in some instances, maybe no African Americans
at all.
But when Lamar Hunt started the AFL, he went to the Historically
Black Colleges and Universities and began to create players. And what a
crop of players he brought in.
Willie Lanier, middle linebacker. In those days, and young people
will probably find this amazing, people in sports would say African
Americans can't play middle linebacker. That is the quarterback of
defense. They can't play quarterback. Willie Lanier, who is in the
building at this time, Mr. Speaker, became a member of the Pro Football
Hall of Fame. He was the starting middle linebacker for the Kansas City
Chiefs for 11 years.
Then there was Buck Buchanan at a little school that most people had
never even heard of, a black college called Grambling. Buck Buchanan,
Pro Football Hall of Fame. Otis Taylor. And the list goes on and on.
And when you look at all of the other teams in the AFL, they, too,
would go into these schools. So in addition to being an innovator, he
was a great humanitarian.
Hunt was not able to ever see his long-held dream of hosting a Super
Bowl in Kansas City. It was something that he worked on. But, before he
died, the NFL owners passed a proposal to bring the NFL's championship
game to Kansas City in February of the year 2015.
Mr. Hunt was a great man, a great leader. He did a lot for our
community. I had the pleasure of traveling with him around the world. I
had the chance to see him in many, many situations; and I can tell you,
this was a giant, even though he never tried to project himself as a
giant in any situation, he tried to just blend in. But there is no way
the history of the National Football League can be complete without a
major section entitled ``Lamar Hunt.''
Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to join me in supporting H. Res. 53,
which is to honor the life and legacy and accomplishments of Lamar
Hunt.
The National Football League, the American sports community, and the
Business Community of Kansas City lost a true treasure on December 13,
2006 when Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt peacefully passed away at
Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas at the age of 74.
He is survived by his wife, Norma and their four children, Lamar,
Jr., Sharron Munson, Clark and Daniel. He was also the proud
grandfather of 14 grandchildren. Recognized as one of the greatest
sportsmen in American history, Hunt served as the guiding force behind
the formation of both the American Football League and the Kansas City
Chiefs franchise. Hunt served as a positive influence on the game for
47 years dating back to his conception of the American Football League
in '59. He was the first AFL figure to be enshrined into the Pro
Football Hall of Fame in '72, a remarkable feat considering he became
involved in the game just 13 years earlier. Hunt served as the
catalyst, who brought together the whimsically-named ``Foolish Club''
comprised of the eight original AFL owners. His ``impossible dream''
became a reality when his fledgling league took foot on the field for
the '60 season. On June 8, 1966, the AFL-NFL merger was announced by
NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle and on January 15, 1967, Hunt's Kansas
City Chiefs were participating in the inaugural Super Bowl.
``Before there was a player, coach or a general manager in the league
there was Lamar Hunt,'' late Patriots owner William Sullivan remarked
at Hunt's Hall of Fame induction ceremony. ``Hunt was the cornerstone,
the integrity of the league. Without him, there would have been no
AFL.'' Despite his many accomplishments, Hunt's humility was one of his
most unwavering and most endearing traits. While he modestly declined
to take credit for his efforts, he truly played an important role in
the design, ongoing development and direction of the modern-day
National Football League. Whether it was serving as the driving force
behind the formation of the AFL, serving as a key player in the AFL-NFL
merger talks in the '60s, or overseeing many crucial issues concerning
pro football and the Chiefs franchise during the past 4 decades, few
individuals helped change the face of America's favorite game for the
better than this quiet Texan. In addition to being a principal
negotiator in the merger of the AFL and NFL in the late '60s, he was a
contributor to the design of the NFL playoff format. He is also
credited with accidentally putting the name ``Super Bowl'' on the NFL's
championship game--the name coming from his children's toy ``Super
Ball.''
For many years, he was a persistent advocate of the 2-point
conversion option for pro football--an old college and AFL rule that
was finally adopted by the NFL in '94. Hunt had also lobbied for many
years that an additional Thanksgiving game be added to the NFL schedule
and in 2006, those efforts were rewarded when the Chiefs hosted the
first-ever Thanksgiving contest at Arrowhead Stadium. Perhaps Hunt's
biggest influence on the league over the years was his quiet, yet
persuasive voice of reason. Hunt's name is rightfully mentioned
alongside other legendary family surnames in pro football history such
as Halas, Mara and Rooney for his commitment to putting the betterment
of the league ahead of any potential individual gain. As the founder of
the AFL, he helped pave the way for much of the modem growth of pro
football. Possibly the greatest tribute to his contributions to the
sport was the naming by the league of the Lamar Hunt Trophy, which is
presented annually to the champion of the American Football Conference.
The early days of the AFL were problem-filled and often tenuous, but
Hunt saw his Dallas Texans franchise achieve on-field success. In 1962,
the Texans won the AFL Championship with a double-overtime victory over
the Houston Oilers, the first of 3 titles won by the Texans/Chiefs
during the league's 10-year existence.
After three years in Dallas, Hunt moved his team to Kansas City in
'63, where the organization was renamed the Chiefs. Hunt truly helped
put Kansas City on the ``big-league'' map, thanks to a star-studded
football team that was the winningest in the 10-year history of the
American Football League. Hunt's team repeated as AFL champions in both
1966 and 1969. By winning the 1966 AFL title, the Chiefs earned the
right to play in the first Super Bowl against the NFL Champion Green
Bay Packers. Three years later, the Chiefs claimed Kansas City's first
major sports championship by defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super
Bowl IV. In the late 1960s, Hunt was closely involved in the original
development plans for Arrowhead Stadium, a facility which provided the
Chiefs and their fans with one of the most decided home-field
advantages in all of sports. While other venues of a similar vintage
have long since been termed obsolete or have been demolished, Arrowhead
continues to serve as a point of pride for the Chiefs and the Kansas
City community.
Thanks in large part to the vision and lobbying efforts of Hunt,
Jackson County Missouri voters approved a 3/8 cent sales tax in April
of 2006. That measure is expected to raise $425 million for the Truman
Sports Complex, of which $325 million has been earmarked to renovate
Arrowhead in order to bring the facility up to today's state-of-the-art
standards. Those improvements should only further solidify Arrowhead's
status as one of America's foremost sporting venues.
Hunt's longtime dream of hosting a Super Bowl in Kansas City appeared
to become a reality when NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced on
November 16, 2005 that NFL owners had passed a proposal to bring the
NFL's championship game to Kansas City in February of 2015.
Unfortunately, a provision in April's election that would have
resurrected the ``rolling roof'' concept for Arrowhead Stadium did not
pass. The ``rolling roof'' was part of Hunt's initial vision for
Arrowhead Stadium in the '60s. In its
[[Page H5491]]
21st century incarnation, the ``rolling roof'' would have provided a
climate-controlled facility suitable for hosting the Super Bowl, the
Final Four and other prestigious events.
While Hunt did not realize his goal of seeing an NFL title game
played in Kansas City, he worked diligently to bring other prominent
sporting contests to Arrowhead over the years. The ``Home of the
Chiefs'' served as host of the Dr Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship
Game in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2006. In addition to numerous other
collegiate football contests, the Chiefs hosted several international
soccer matches at Arrowhead thanks to Hunt's influence.
Hunt's decision to hire Chiefs President, General Manager and CEO
Carl Peterson in December '88 set the stage for a football renaissance
in Kansas City. During the decade of the '90s, Hunt and Peterson,
earned the distinction of becoming just the fourth Owner/General
Manager combination to preside over a franchise for all 10 years of a
100-win decade as Kansas City compiled a stellar 102-58 (.638) regular
season record from '90-99. Under Hunt's stewardship, the Chiefs
developed an intensely-loyal fan following, not just in Mid-America,
but across the country and around the globe. Hunt took great
satisfication in the fact that the Chiefs boasted season-ticket holders
from 48 of the 50 states (all but Maine and Vermont), the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada. He was also appreciative of the fact
that Kansas City was selected to represent the NFL in 4 American Bowl
contests--Berlin, Germany ('90), Tokyo, Japan ('94, '98) and Monterrey,
Mexico ('96).
While the Chiefs always remained Hunt's most prized sporting entity,
his passion for athletics encompassed more than just the game of
football. Appropriately nicknamed ``Games'' during his childhood,
Hunt's love of sports was his true lifeblood, an enthusiasm which led
to his involvement in 6 different professional sports leagues and 7
sports franchises.
In addition to his formative role in the creation of the American
Football League, Hunt was involved in the development of both the North
American Soccer League and a tennis promotion company, World
Championship Tennis. Hunt's involvement in those ventures resulted
years later in his induction into the respective Halls of Fame of both
United States Soccer (located in Oneonta, New York) in '82 and
International Tennis (located in Newport, Rhode Island) in '93. He was
also inducted into the state Sports Halls of Fame of both Missouri
('95) and Texas ('84). In total, Hunt was selected to 8 ``Halls of
Fame,'' including the Texas Business Hall of Fame ('97) and the Kansas
City Business Hall of Fame (2004). In '81, Hunt was inducted into the
NFL Alumni Association's prestigious Order of the Leather Helmet and in
February of '93, he received the Francis J. ``Reds'' Bagnell Award from
the Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia for continuing positive
contributions to the game.
Truly a sportsman for all seasons, Soccer America Magazine named Hunt
one of its ``25 Most Influential People'' in '99 after the 91-year-old
U.S. Open Cup was renamed the ``Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.'' That same
year he also received the U.S. Soccer Federation Hall of Fame Medal of
Honor, joining former U.S. Soccer President Alan Rothenberg as the only
other individual to earn that prestigious distinction. In 2005, the
U.S. Soccer Foundation honored Hunt with its Lifetime Achievement
Award. The Hunt Family served as the Investor/Operators of the Kansas
City Wizards franchise of Major League Soccer from '95-06 and reveled
as the Wizards claimed the 2000 MLS Cup. The Hunt Family still oversees
the operations of 2 MLS franchises, F.C. Dallas and the Columbus Crew.
The Hunt Sports Group has been at the forefront of stadium
development in the United States, beginning with America's first
soccer-specific stadium, 22,555-seat Crew Stadium which opened in '99.
In 2005, Pizza Hut Park was completed in Frisco, Texas, giving the
Dallas area one of the world's most unique and futuristic soccer
facilities. Hunt was also one of the founding investors in the 6-time
World Champion Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. In
total, Hunt was the owner of 13 distinctive championship rings from 5
different professional sports associations (AFL/NFL, MLS, NBA, NASL and
the U.S. Soccer ``Open Cup''). His football championship litany
included a Super Bowl IV ring from the '69 Chiefs, as well as AFL title
rings from the '62 Texans and '66 Chiefs. A highly-successful
businessman outside of sports, one of Hunt's most notable innovations
was Sub-Tropolis, the world's largest underground business complex,
located just north of Arrowhead Stadium. This naturally climate-
controlled, subterranean industrial park serves as home to over 50
local, national and international businesses. Hunt also envisioned and
developed Worlds of Fun, a 165-acre family entertainment complex which
opened in '73, as well as the 60-acre family water recreation park,
Oceans of Fun which was completed in '82. While both of those entities
were sold in '95, Hunt Midwest Enterprises, Inc. continues to oversee a
diverse range of business interests, including limestone mining and
real estate development.
Hunt was born on August 2, 1932 in El Dorado, Arkansas and graduated
from SMU with a B.S. in Geology in '56. While at SMU, he was a 3-year
reserve end on the Varsity Football Team. Hunt was an avid supporter of
his alma mater and was an annual fixture at the Cotton Bowl. He and his
wife Norma were also involved in numerous philanthropic and civic
efforts in Dallas, across the state of Texas and in the Kansas City
community.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the world of professional sports lost one of its
strongest enthusiasts this past December when Lamar Hunt lost his long
battle with prostate cancer.
Widely known throughout the professional sports industry, his
inspirational career helped the National Football League, the Major
Soccer League and the National Hockey League become the massive
successes they are today.
Born in El Dorado, Arkansas, and raised in Dallas, Texas, Lamar Hunt
was a passionate sports fanatic. He played on his college football team
at Southern Methodist University, but his real involvement began when
he applied for an expansion to the National Football League in 1959. He
was turned down, and a year later he decided with a group of eight
others to form the American Football League. Facing tough competition
from the NFL, he was determined to become the owner of a Texas football
team. His first team ownership came with the founding of the Dallas
Texans.
A few years later, the team moved to Kansas City and became the
Kansas City Chiefs, which Hunt would continue to own until the time of
his death. His Chiefs went on to play in the first-ever Super Bowl
game, which, by the way, was the term he coined as the championship
game between the two leagues.
Lamar Hunt was instrumental in the merger between the National
Football League and the American football League in 1970. Beyond
football, he made similar efforts in the fields of soccer, tennis and
hockey. He helped establish the World Championship Tennis Circuit,
Major League Soccer, and its predecessor, the North American Soccer
League. At the time of his death, he owned two MLS teams, the FC Dallas
and the Columbus Crew. He even furthered his ownership enterprise as
one of the original owners of the Chicago Bulls NBA team.
Among his numerous awards and honors, he has been inducted into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the
International Tennis Hall of Fame. The American Football League trophy
presented each year to the AFL champion team is aptly named the Lamar
Hunt Trophy.
It is only right that we honor Lamar Hunt for his innovation,
dedication and enthusiasm to the national sports industry. His
achievements in sports and charitable contributions, as well as his
work in theme parks and industrial parks, are to be commended. He was
an inspiration to those in the NFL, and his legacy will continue
through his teams.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the
consideration of H. Res. 53, which honors the life of Lamar Hunt and
his outstanding contributions to the Kansas City Chiefs, the National
Football League and the United States of America.
{time} 1630
H. Res. 53, which has 52 cosponsors, was introduced by the gentleman
from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver) on January 11, 2007. H. Res. 53 was
reported from the Oversight Committee on May 1, 2007, by voice vote.
Mr. Speaker, as already has been indicated, America lost a great
sportsman and businessman when the Kansas City Chiefs football team
owner, Mr. Lamar Hunt, passed away on December 13, 2006, at
Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 74.
[[Page H5492]]
Mr. William Sullivan, the late Patriots football team owner, said,
``Before there was a player, coach or a general manager in the league,
there was Lamar Hunt. Hunt was the cornerstone, the integrity of the
league. Without him, there would have been no American Football
League.''
In the 1950s, Mr. Hunt on several occasions approached the National
Football League to buy a franchise for his hometown of Dallas, Texas,
but he was repeatedly denied. Frustrated by this, he decided to
organize a rival pro football circuit, the American Football League, in
1960. Mr. Hunt was the owner of the Dallas Texans, one of the eight
original teams that formed the AFL. Mr. Hunt's Dallas Texans won the
championship in 1962. Soon after, he moved the team to Kansas City in
1963. He renamed them the Kansas City Chiefs. The team won the AFL
championship in 1966, and the Super Bowl IV title in 1969.
I want to commend my colleague Mr. Cleaver not only for introduction
of this legislation, but his passionate indication of what the life of
Lamar Hunt was, for his personal experiences and contributions not only
to the game of football, but to the game of life.
Listening to Representative Cleaver it becomes clear that not only
was Mr. Hunt a giant of a football man, but he was a giant of a
humanitarian, a giant of a man who could take ideas and convey those in
such a way that others would buy into them, while at the same time
continuing to live out the thoughts that Kipling had: If you can talk
with kings and queens and not lose the common touch; if all men count
with you, but none too much; and if you can fill the unforgiving moment
with 60 seconds' worth of distance run, yours will be the world and all
that is in it. And what is more, you will be a man, my son.
Lamar Hunt was indeed a giant of a man. I urge passage of this
legislation.
Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of one of
Kansas City's legendary figures.
Lamar Hunt made a positive and lasting impression on Kansas City. He
was a man who seemingly touched every life that crossed his path. He
was known for his easy-going, engaging personality. He will be
remembered not only for what he accomplished, but for the way he
treated people.
Mr. Hunt was an innovator. He is credited with making the National
Football League what it is today. He coined the term ``Super Bowl'',
championed the 2-point conversion and brought American soccer into the
mainstream. He was inducted into 3 different professional sports halls
of Fame--football, tennis and soccer.
His beloved Kansas City Chiefs played in the American Football League
and won the Super Bowl in 1969. The Chiefs are as much a part of Kansas
City as barbeque and jazz, thanks to Mr. Hunt's leadership.
Mr. Hunt though was an innovator in other ways too. He built both
Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun as state of the art theme parks in
Kansas City. He also built the Subtropolis Office Complex in the
limestone caves around Kansas City.
Mr. Speaker, simply stated, Lamar Hunt was a giant among men.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res.
53, to recognize the life of Lamar Hunt and his outstanding
contributions to the Kansas City Chiefs, the National Football League,
and the United States.
The National Football League and the American sports community lost a
true treasure on December 13, 2006 when Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt
passed away in Dallas, Texas at the age of 74. Lamar Hunt was an
independent thinker, a trailblazer who refused to be denied his dream.
Recognized as one of the greatest sportsmen in American history, Hunt
served as the guiding force behind the formation of both the American
Football League and the Kansas City Chiefs franchise.
Hunt served as a positive influence on the game for 47 years dating
back to his conception of the American Football League in 1959. He was
the first AFL figure to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1972, a remarkable feat considering he became involved in the game
just 13 years earlier.
Hunt served as the catalyst who brought together the ``Foolish Club''
comprised of the 8 original AFL owners. His ``impossible dream'' became
a reality when his fledgling league took foot on the field for the 1960
season. On June 8, 1966, the AFL-NFL merger was announced by NFL
Commissioner Pete Rozelle and on January 15, 1967, Hunt's Kansas City
Chiefs were participating in the inaugural Super Bowl. Lamar Hunt's
Kansas City Chiefs returned to the Super Bowl in 1970 and defeated the
Minnesota Vikings by a score of 23-7 in Super Bowl IV.
Despite his many accomplishments, Hunt's humility was one of his most
unwavering and most endearing traits. While he modestly declined to
take credit for his efforts, Hunt truly played an important role in the
design, ongoing development and direction of the modern-day National
Football League. Lamar Hunt was also a risk taker. He signed a great
number of African-American players onto the Kansas City Chiefs football
team at a time when few other football teams took that chance. So,
Lamar Hunt rose above the crowd and nestled on top of the football and
sports apex where few others sat.
Whether it was employing more African-Americans, serving as the
driving force behind the formation of the AFL, serving as a key player
in the AFL-NFL merger talks in the '60s, or overseeing many crucial
issues concerning pro football and the Chiefs franchise during the past
4 decades, few individuals helped change the face of America's favorite
game for the better than this quiet Texan.
In addition to being a principal negotiator in the merger of the AFL
and NFL in the late '60s, he was a contributor to the design of the NFL
playoff format. He is also credited with accidentally putting the name
``Super Bowl'' on the NFL's championship game--the name coming from his
children's toy ``Super Ball.''
As the founder of the AFL, he helped pave the way for much of the
modern growth of pro football. Possibly the greatest tribute to his
contributions to the sport was the naming by the league of the Lamar
Hunt Trophy, which is presented annually to the champion of the
American Football Conference.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the
enormous contributions Lamar Hunt has made the sports world and beyond.
Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the gentleman from
Missouri, the Honorable Emanuel Cleaver, for spearheading the effort in
Congress to honor Kansas City Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt, who passed
away in December 2006 after living a long and distinguished life. As
the Fifth District's U.S. representative and the former mayor of Kansas
City, Missouri, Mr. Cleaver understands better than anyone in the House
how special Lamar Hunt's Chiefs are to the Kansas City community and to
people all throughout the Show-Me State.
Missouri's Fourth District, which I am privileged to represent,
includes portions of the Kansas City suburbs and most of the rural,
west central section of the State. Many of the Missourians who call the
Fourth District home are proud Chiefs fans. They don jerseys, t-shirts,
hats, and flags emblazoned with the red team color of the Chiefs and
travel great distances to watch the Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium.
Among the people, there is a great deal of pride for the Chiefs.
Missourians who love the Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football
League, NFL, owe a debt of gratitude to Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, who
in 1963 moved the Dallas Texans to Kansas City. For 40 years, Mr. Hunt
owned and was a critical participant in the Chiefs football club. Under
his leadership, the Chiefs won the American Football League
Championship game in 1966 and in 1969 and won the National Football
League Super Bowl IV Championship in 1970. And, while the team has been
competitive through most of its history, it experienced a renaissance
after Mr. Hunt hired General Manager Carl Peterson in 1988.
Mr. Hunt also helped mold the direction of the modern-day NFL and
served as the driving force behind the merger of the American and
National football leagues in 1970. He founded the American Football
League at the age of 27 and created and named the championship game
known as the Super Bowl. Throughout his career, he advocated for
innovative and progressive changes to enhance the NFL, including the
inclusion of the two point conversion option for professional football,
placing names on the backs of the uniforms, naming the Super Bowl
trophy after Vince Lombardi, and adding another Thanksgiving game to
the NFL schedule.
In recognition of Mr. Hunt's work in football, he was enshrined in
the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1972, was inducted into the
NFL Alumni Association's prestigious Order of the Leather Helmet, and
received the Francis J. ``Reds'' Bagnell Award from the Maxwell
Football Club of Philadelphia. The NFL also named the American Football
Conference, AFC, trophy, which is presented each year to the AFC
champion, the ``Lamar Hunt Trophy.''
In addition to football, Mr. Hunt was dedicated to other sports,
including soccer, basketball, and tennis. He was also a highly
successful businessman and philanthropist.
Mr. Speaker, Lamar Hunt was a remarkable man. Though he was born in
Arkansas and lived much of his life in Texas, his decision to establish
the Kansas City Chiefs in Missouri has endeared him to Show-Me State
residents. And, he made his mark in the history of
[[Page H5493]]
the United States by helping to create the NFL, which is revered by so
many Americans. As the House of Representatives prepares to pass
legislation today to honor Mr. Hunt's life and legacy, let us remember
his unique contributions to Missouri and to our country.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to
recognize the late Lamar Hunt, a tireless contributor to the National
Football League, NFL, and to the United States.
Originally from El Dorado, Arkansas, Lamar Hunt was educated in Texas
at Southern Methodist University, where he obtained a Bachelor of
Science degree in Geology and served as a 3-year reserve end on the
varsity football team.
At the young age of 27, Hunt persevered through much criticism and
founded the Dallas Texans, now known as the Kansas City Chiefs, and
facilitated the creation of the American Football League. By
undertaking these two tasks, he paved the way for the expansion of
professional football.
Hunt's impeccable management skills and keen perception of the game
propelled him to spearhead groundbreaking developments in the NFL.
These developments include, among many others, the installation of the
2-point conversion option and the inclusion of names on the back of
game jerseys. Although known for such contributions to the NFL, Hunt's
commitment to the community went far beyond the football field.
Hunt was an avid supporter of societal betterment, hosting and
sponsoring many philanthropic efforts. He made significant financial
contributions to higher learning institutions, the Heart of a Champion
foundation, and the fine arts, notably the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
and the Dallas Museum of Art.
In closing, Lamar Hunt was a very special man who touched the lives
of many Americans. I am delighted and honored to recognize such a
distinguished, forward thinking gentleman, and I urge my colleagues to
join me in saluting this remarkable citizen.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of
H. Res. 53, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 53.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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