[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 149 (Thursday, September 18, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8454-H8455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING COACH DON HASKINS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of the greatest figures 
in American sports history, a coach who shattered racial barriers and 
forever changed the game of basketball. He led an all-African American 
starting lineup to victory against an all-white powerhouse team in the 
1966 NCAA Basketball Championship.
  Coach Don Haskins, better known to us as The Bear, passed away on 
Sunday, September 7, in El Paso, Texas at the age of 78. I had the 
privilege of calling Coach Haskins a friend, and I join all of El Paso 
and his many fans across the Nation in mourning his passing.
  Although he never saw it or intended to be one of the greatest civil 
rights pioneers in sports, his commitment to playing the most talented 
athletes regardless of skin color in the 1966 championship was a major 
turning point in American sports and the civil rights movement.
  The landmark game between Texas Western College--which is now proudly 
known as the University of Texas at El Paso--and the University of 
Kentucky at that time is often regarded as one of the greatest moments 
in sports history and the most important game in college basketball.
  For those of us from El Paso, Don Haskins was more than just a coach. 
He was a community icon that put a little known west Texas town in the 
national spotlight. He was fiercely a loyal supporter and has always 
been a diehard fan of the University of Texas at El Paso and could be 
seen often in the stands cheering on his beloved Minors.

[[Page H8455]]

  Coach Haskins arrived at Texas Western College in 1961 and retired in 
1999 after 38 seasons with a record of 719 wins and 353 losses. He led 
our Minors to seven Western Athletic Conference Championships, 14 NCAA 
Tournament appearances, and seven appearances in the National 
Invitational tournament. Couch Haskins also served as an assistant 
coach in the 1972 U.S. Olympic team.
  On September 29, 1997, Coach Haskins was inducted into the Naismith 
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Ten years later, the entire 1966 
Texas Western team joined their coach in this honor, becoming just the 
sixth team in the history of basketball to do so.
  Though known for his ferocity on the court, off the court Coach 
Haskins was humble, compassionate, and witty. He never relished in 
celebrity, even after his story and that of the 1966 Texas Western team 
made it to the big screen in the 2006 Disney production of Glory Road.
  He touched many lives, and never hesitated to help any person in 
need. He was known for visiting coffee shops around our town--many of 
them in poor areas--and would order a single cup of coffee, but leave a 
$20 tip. He never once bragged or boasted about what he did for others.
  At Coach Haskins' memorial service, the University of Southern 
California basketball coach, Tim Floyd, a former UTEP assistant coach 
under Coach Haskins, shared a very moving story that demonstrates the 
kinds of deeds that Coach Haskins did for people often in need. It is 
told that one day Coach Haskins was driving to El Paso from Van Horn, 
Texas--which is approximately 120 miles from El Paso. He was driving, 
as all of us that knew and loved him, in his signature white pick-up 
truck. While driving, he noticed that a station wagon had broken down 
and was stranded on the side of the road; it was a single mom with four 
children.

                              {time}  1800

  Coach Haskins, typically, pulled over, and he asked the mother if she 
needed help. She told Coach Haskins that she was trying to get to Los 
Angeles, but her car had broken down. Coach Haskins squeezed all of the 
four children and the mom inside the cab of his pickup and drove them 
to El Paso. He put the family up in a hotel, arranged for their car to 
be towed and repaired, and he gave the mother $1,000 to help her get to 
Los Angeles.
  Coach Haskins never mentioned this to anyone, including to his wife. 
It wasn't until the mayor of Van Horn called the coach's office and the 
now Coach Tim Floyd answered the phone that he found out what had 
occurred. Coach Floyd never shared this story while Coach Haskins was 
alive because he knew that Coach Haskins wouldn't want anyone to know 
about it.
  This is but one example of the hundreds of stories that people tell 
about our legendary coach.
  Mr. Speaker, when reflecting on his decision to start five African 
American players, Coach Haskins simply said, ``I just played my five 
best players.''
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Johnson of Georgia). The time of the 
gentleman has expired.
  Mr. REYES. I ask unanimous consent for an additional minute.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair cannot entertain that request. The 
gentleman will finish his remarks.
  Mr. REYES. I'll file the rest for the Record. Thank you.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. HUNTER. A parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is recognized.
  Mr. HUNTER. Could I be recognized for 1 minute and then yield it to 
my friend from Texas?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman is 
recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HUNTER. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  I would yield to the gentleman.
  Mr. REYES. I thank my friend from California.
  Coach Haskins never sought or wanted credit for changing college 
basketball, and he would always say, ``I just wanted to win the game.''
  Like many of history's greatest role models, it was the humility and 
unassuming personality after achieving unprecedented success that, 
today, he inspires us all.
  He is survived by his lovely wife, Mary, and was the proud father of 
Brent, David, Steve, and Mark. Although he is no longer with us, we 
know that his spirit will always live on at UTEP and that his legend 
and legendary stories will forever remain an important part of our 
country's history.
  God blessed us with Coach Haskins, and now we ask for God's blessing 
for our coach.

                          ____________________