[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 105 (Tuesday, July 14, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8041-H8043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING WAYMAN LAWRENCE TISDALE

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 469) honoring the life of Wayman Lawrence Tisdale 
and expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives on his 
passing.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 469

       Whereas Wayman Lawrence Tisdale was born and raised in 
     Tulsa, Oklahoma, and became a outstanding athlete as a 
     student at Booker T. Washington High School;
       Whereas in 1982 Mr. Tisdale was named Oklahoma's only 
     McDonald's All American and was named Converse National High 
     School Player of the Year;
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale's 3-year career at the University of 
     Oklahoma, from 1982 to 1985, has left a legacy of excellence 
     and respect for the program and the sport of basketball;
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale in 1983, 1984, and 1985 received the 
     honor of being named Big Eight Player of the year for the 
     University of Oklahoma;
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale was named to the All-American team 3 
     times in 3 years while at the University of Oklahoma;
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale played on the U.S. Olympic team in 1984 
     and received a gold medal;
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale was named the Most Valuable Player for 
     the Big Eight Tournament Championship in 1985;
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale and was selected as the No. 2 overall 
     draft pick in the National Basketball Association in 1986;
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale left his mark on the sport of 
     professional basketball with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento 
     Kings, and Phoenix Suns, scoring more than 12,800 points and 
     pulling down more than 5,000 rebounds in a 12-year career;
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale subsequently released 8 albums of jazz 
     music following his extraordinary basketball career;
       Whereas in 1995 Mr. Tisdale's jazz album Power Forward 
     reached No. 4 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart, and Mr. 
     Tisdale's album Way Up reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top 10;
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale has been an inspiration to those in the 
     Jazz community;
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale served as a testament and example to 
     the power of perseverance and positive thinking in the midst 
     of personal trial; and
       Whereas Mr. Tisdale's admirable character has served as a 
     strong example to thousands of Americans to persevere and not 
     be bound by one calling in life, but to achieve all which 
     they hope and aspire to for themselves and their families: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives expresses--
       (1) gratitude to Wayman Lawrence Tisdale for his 
     exceptional character and for the example that he served as a 
     testament to the powers of positive thinking; and
       (2) profound sorrow at the death of Mr. Tisdale and 
     condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues, and to 
     the State of Oklahoma that he represented so well.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Georgia 
(Mr. Westmoreland) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  On behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am 
pleased to present H. Res. 469 for consideration, honoring the 
exceptional life of Wayman Lawrence Tisdale and expressing sincere 
condolences on his passing.
  H. Res. 469 was introduced by our colleague, Representative Tom Cole 
of Oklahoma, on May 21, 2009, and reported out of the Oversight 
Committee by unanimous consent on June 18, 2009. Additionally, this 
resolution enjoys the bipartisan support of over 50 Members of 
Congress.
  Born in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 9, 1964, Wayman Tisdale grew up in 
Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he developed his dual affections for the sport 
of basketball and what Wayman considered his first love, music. 
Notably, while Wayman was considered one of the most heavily recruited 
high school basketball players in the Nation, he always continued to 
play bass guitar during morning services at his father's Tulsa church.
  Wayman subsequently accepted a basketball scholarship from the 
University of Oklahoma where he was a three-time All-American from 1983 
to 1985, including his freshman year, marking the first time that a 
freshman has been named as a first-team All-American since freshmen 
were allowed to play again in the 1971-1972 season. During his 
collegiate career with the University of Oklahoma Sooners, Wayman was 
also honored as Big Eight Conference player of the year for three 
consecutive seasons and still holds Oklahoma's career record with 2,661 
points and career rebounding record with 1,048 rebounds. In addition, 
he remained devoted to music, as he continued to play bass guitar at 
Sunday services in Tulsa and even played in the Oklahoma Sooners band.
  In honor of his remarkable achievements as a Sooner, in 1997 Wayman 
became the first player in any sport to have his jersey number, number 
23, retired by the University of Oklahoma and in April of 2009 was 
inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
  Prior to his selection as a second overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft 
by

[[Page H8042]]

the Indiana Pacers, Wayman honorably represented his country as a 
member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team which won the gold 
medal in Los Angeles. He then embarked on an impressive 12-season 
professional basketball career as a power forward and center with the 
Pacers, the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns.
  Upon his retirement from the NBA in 1997, Wayman continued to develop 
his musical talent and subsequently became an award-winning 
contemporary jazz musician. Wayman had launched his professional music 
career with the 1995 release of his jazz album, Power Forward, which 
reached number four on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. He 
subsequently released seven additional jazz albums, all of which 
reached the Top Ten on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, 
including three albums that went to number one.
  In addition to his success on the basketball court and his influence 
on jazz music, Wayman will be equally remembered for his exceptional 
character, positivity and heart. As noted by his former Indiana Pacers 
teammate Reggie Miller, Wayman ``was the nicest man in the world with 
the biggest heart and an even bigger smile. I thank him for befriending 
me and for showing me there is more to life than just basketball.''
  Regrettably, Wayman Lawrence Tisdale passed away on May 15, 2009, at 
the young age of 44. Mr. Speaker, let us honor this exceptional 
athlete, musician and man through the passage of H. Res. 469. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume 
to my distinguished colleague, my friend and the author of this 
resolution from the State of Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).
  Mr. COLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill to honor a great 
American and a great Oklahoman, Wayman Lawrence Tisdale. I would like 
to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their work on the 
bill. As the gentlelady from the District of Columbia so aptly noted, 
Wayman Lawrence Tisdale was an all-star basketball player and a 
brilliant jazz musician. However, Tisdale was not only an exceptional 
athlete and musician, he brought a positive spirit to everything he did 
and should serve as a role model to all Americans. Even when he faced 
personal adversity, he maintained an optimistic attitude and brought 
joy to all of those surrounding him.

                              {time}  1330

  Wayman Tisdale was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the youngest of six 
children of a distinguished Baptist minister and a loving wife. At 
6'9", Wayman excelled as a basketball player at Booker T. Washington 
High School where he was named Oklahoma's only McDonald's All American 
and was named Converse National High School Player of the Year. Though 
Tisdale had many scholarship offers, he chose to remain close to home 
and attend the University of Oklahoma.
  After arriving at the University of Oklahoma, Tisdale quickly 
distinguished himself as one of the greatest basketball players the 
school has ever seen. In his 3-year college career, he received the 
honor of being named Big 8 Player of the Year in 1983, 1984, and 1985. 
Mr. Speaker, he was also named to the All American Team three times in 
3 years while at the University of Oklahoma.
  Tisdale averaged 25.6 points a game and 10.1 rebounds a contest 
during his career with the Sooners. He still holds Oklahoma career 
records for points and rebounds. Tisdale also owns the school's single-
game scoring mark and career marks for points per game, field goals, 
and free throws attempted and made. Tisdale was a member of the gold 
medal U.S. Olympic team of 1984 and was the number two NBA draft pick 
in 1986. While in the NBA, Mr. Speaker, Wayman Tisdale played with the 
Indiana Pacers, the Sacramento Kings, and the Phoenix Suns scoring more 
than 12,800 points and pulling down more than 5,000 rebounds in a 12-
year professional career. On November 22, 2009, Wayman Tisdale will be 
formally inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Speaker, in addition to a remarkable basketball career, Mr. 
Tisdale distinguished himself as a jazz musician. As the son of a 
Baptist minister, he became intrigued by the bass guitarists at his 
father's church and began teaching himself to play guitar and bass. He 
recorded and released eight albums of jazz, one of which reached No. 1 
on Billboard's Top 10; another one reached No. 4 on Billboard's 
Contemporary Jazz chart.
  In addition to his solo career, Tisdale also collaborated with some 
of the most popular musicians in smooth jazz, including solo artists 
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Kirk Whalum, David Sanborn, Jonathan 
Butler, and Everette Harp. In 2002, Wayman received the distinction of 
the Bassist of the Year in the National Smooth Jazz Awards.
  Though Tisdale was a remarkably talented basketball player and 
musician, it's perhaps his positive spirit that distinguished him above 
all else. Mr. Speaker, in my home State of Oklahoma, we are justly 
proud of Will Rogers who liked to say he never met a man he didn't 
like. Well, I can't testify as to whether that was true of Mr. Tisdale 
or not, but I'm certain that Mr. Tisdale never met a man who didn't 
like him.
  Friends and relatives have noted that Wayman was also upbeat, had a 
remarkable ability to smile at everyone he met, even in the darkest 
circumstances. Former coaches and players have said that Tisdale was 
able to turn the national spotlight on the University of Oklahoma 
basketball program not only by his incredible talent on the court, but 
by his positive spirit and his sheer charisma as a player and as a 
person.
  Our Governor, Governor Brad Henry, referred to him as ``one of the 
most inspirational people I have ever known.'' Fellow Olympic team 
member and close friend, Sam Perkins, said that Tisdale was ``a real 
friend who's got your back and would do just about anything for you.''
  In 2007, Wayman Tisdale was diagnosed with bone cancer, which 
ultimately resulted in the removal of part of his leg. During this 
ordeal, Tisdale maintained a very positive spirit, which should serve 
as an example for all Americans and all people who struggle with 
hardship and disease. When referring to his battle with cancer, he 
said, ``You don't change because things come in your life. You get 
better because things come in your life.'' Tragically, Mr. Tisdale 
passed away due to complications from cancer on May 15, 2009.
  Despite his personal struggles, Tisdale excelled at two separate 
careers. His strong spirit and the positive attitude that he brought to 
everything that he did should serve as an inspiration to everyone. It's 
only fitting that Congress should pay tribute to this outstanding 
American.
  Again, I urge the passage of H. Res. 469.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and regional 
Member, Mr. Connolly of Virginia.
  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia, and I, of course, support the resolution in 
front of us.
  I rise, however, today to recognize the nine individuals who perished 
in the June 22 Metrorail crash on the Red Line. I pray that we'll never 
have to experience such a tragedy again.
  One of those individuals was my constituent, Jeanice McMillan of 
Springfield, Virginia. She was the operator of the train, and she took 
heroic measures to try to have manual override on an automatic system 
that apparently failed to detect a stationary train in front of her. 
Her efforts saved lives; and in the course of her heroic efforts, she, 
of course, sacrificed her own. Her memory is an important memory, and 
it needs to be honored here in the United States Congress along with 
the other victims of that tragedy. Hopefully, the measures we are going 
to try to undertake this next week will go a long way to mitigating the 
possibility of such a tragedy recurring in the system.
  Metro is important to metropolitan Washington; it's important to the 
Nation's Capital. It is America's subway. We need to invest in it. And 
in the name and memory of my constituent, Jeanice McMillan, and the 
other victims of that tragedy on June 22, I

[[Page H8043]]

would hope we'll take such actions soon.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize each of the nine individuals 
who perished in the June 22 Metrorail crash on the Red Line and I pray 
that we will never have to experience such a tragedy again.
  However, I want to single out the life and service of my Northern 
Virginia constituent, Jeanice McMillan of Springfield, who was the 
operator of one of the trains involved in the crash.
  In the moments before she lost her life in the line of duty, Ms. 
McMillan's prompt and professional actions undoubtedly saved the lives 
of many passengers riding in the front cars of the train.
  Investigators have determined that Ms. McMillan successfully 
activated the manual emergency brakes in an attempt to slow down the 
train as it hurtled toward the Fort Totten station after the train's 
automatic controls failed to react to the presence of another train on 
the tracks ahead of it.
  Unfortunately, Ms. McMillan and eight passengers died when the front 
car of her train telescoped in the horrific crash.
  Ms. McMillan began her career at Metro in 2007, after a decade of 
service in the United States Postal Service. By all accounts, she was 
an exemplary and conscientious public employee who put the welfare of 
others ahead of her own in her private and professional lives.
  Ms. McMillan made sacrifices at home to help fund her son Jordan's 
college education just as she made the ultimate sacrifice at work to 
save the lives of others in the moments before the two Metro trails 
collided on that fateful day.
  As I have done privately, I express my deepest condolences to the 
McMillan family, particularly Vernard and Jordan, and I wish them all 
the best.
  Since the wreck, there has been renewed interest in the relatively 
poor safety record of the aging 1000-series cars, like the one that 
telescoped so dramatically in the wreck. Today, 290 of these 1000-
series cars are in Metrorail's fleet of 1,126 cars. If Congress and the 
President approve funding the Federal Government's $150 million 
matching share of dedicated funding, there will be sufficient revenue 
to replace these with much safer cars that are less prone to 
telescoping.
  The regional delegation has been working tirelessly to ensure that 
the Federal government matches the $150 million that Virginia, 
Maryland, and Washington, D.C., have already identified to ensure that 
the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) can conduct the 
necessary maintenance to prevent disasters like this in the future.
  I appreciate the leadership of Chairman John Olver from the 
Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee for including this request 
in his mark up this week, and I thank my colleagues-from the National 
Capital Region for their commitment to ensuring that WMATA has the 
resources it needs to provide the safest possible transit service.
  I ask my colleagues to join us in honoring the lives of those lost by 
supporting the necessary investments to help ensure such tragedies are 
prevented in the future.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers so I am prepared 
to reserve.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of the Members to support 
the passage of H. Res. 469.
  I rise in support of H.R. 469 honoring the life of basketball star 
and jazz musician Wayman Tisdale and expressing condolences to his 
family on his death.
  Today, we honor Wayman Tisdale, for his life accomplishments and for 
his demonstration of positive thinking, particularly in the last couple 
of years of his life as he battled cancer.
  Mr. Tisdale's inspirational and enthusiastic way in which he lived 
his life serves as an example for us all. He was a star basketball 
player, showing a profound gift for the sport during his time at 
Oklahoma University in the mid-1980s. He is considered an OU basketball 
legend, having been a three-time All-American during his time at the 
university and was OU's all-time leader in scoring and field goal 
percentage. Mr. Tisdale was a member of the men's basketball team in 
the 1984 Olympics and assisted in their gold medal win.
  He went on to be the second overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft by the 
Indiana Pacers, and played for a total of 12 NBA seasons for the 
Pacers, the Sacramento Kings, and the Phoenix Suns until his retirement 
from the NBA in 1997.
  Though his professional basketball career came to an end at that 
point, Mr. Tisdale did not, in any sense, slow down. He continued to 
participate in basketball camps for youngsters. He also became known as 
a talented jazz musician, releasing his first CD in 1995, which 
achieved the Number four spot on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart 
and also gained a spot on the R&B charts. His subsequent albums were 
also successful, with many earning spots on Billboard's Top 10.
  Mr. Tisdale's accomplishments in his life are a reflection of his 
motivational frame of mind. He was noted and admired for his positive 
thinking, even after he was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2007. The 
diagnosis led to surgeries and eventually the amputation of his right 
leg, but Mr. Tisdale never lost his positive outlook.
  Sadly, Mr. Tisdale passed away suddenly on May 15, 2009. Though he 
has left this world, he will forever be remembered for the optimistic 
and confident manner in which he led his life and, by example, 
encouraged us to do the same.
  In a press interview in June of 2008, he said ``You go through 
things. You don't change because things come in your life. You get 
better because things come in your life.''
  Many people can attest that they are better for having had Mr. 
Tisdale as a role model and a part of their lives. I rise today and ask 
my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Tisdale and expressing our 
condolences to his family in his passing by supporting H. Res. 469.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting H. Res. 469, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 469.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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