[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 11, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3286-H3287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING WILLIAM EARNEST ``ERNIE'' HARWELL

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
resolution (H. Res. 1328) honoring the life and legacy of William 
Earnest ``Ernie'' Harwell.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1328

       Whereas William Earnest ``Ernie'' Harwell was born in 
     Washington, Georgia, in 1918, graduated from Emory 
     University, and began his career as a copy editor and 
     sportswriter for the Atlanta Constitution and as a regional 
     correspondent for The Sporting News;
       Whereas Ernie Harwell served four years in the United 
     States Marine Corps during World War II, after which he 
     announced games on the radio for the Atlanta Crackers of the 
     Southern Association;
       Whereas Ernie Harwell became the only announcer in baseball 
     history to be traded for a player when the Brooklyn Dodgers 
     acquired his services from the Atlanta Crackers in 1948;
       Whereas Ernie Harwell called baseball games for the 
     Brooklyn Dodgers through 1949, the New York Giants from 1950 
     to 1953, including his call of Bobby Thomson's ``shot heard 
     'round the world'' in the 1951 National League pennant 
     playoff game on NBC television, and the Baltimore Orioles 
     from 1954 to 1959;
       Whereas in 1960, Ernie Harwell began calling games at the 
     corner of Michigan and Trumbull as the ``voice'' of Detroit 
     Tigers baseball, until his retirement from broadcasting in 
     2002;
       Whereas Ernie Harwell called the 1984 World Series for the 
     Tigers and WJR Radio, exclaiming ``Here comes Herndon, he's 
     got it! And the Tigers are the champions of 1984!'';
       Whereas Ernie Harwell broadcast two Major League All-Star 
     Games (1958 and 1961) and two World Series (1963 and 1968) 
     for NBC Radio, numerous American League Championship Series 
     and American League Division Series for CBS Radio and ESPN 
     Radio, the CBS Radio Game of the Week from 1992 to 1997, 
     professional and college football, and the Masters Tournament 
     of golf;
       Whereas Ernie Harwell was honored by the National Baseball 
     Hall of Fame as the fifth broadcaster to receive its Ford C. 
     Frick Award in 1981, inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall 
     of Fame and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters 
     Association Hall of Fame in 1989, and inducted into the 
     National Radio Hall of Fame in 1998;
       Whereas in January 2009, the American Sportscasters 
     Association ranked Harwell 16th on its list of Top 50 
     Sportscasters of All Time;
       Whereas, on May 5, 2010, Ernie Harwell was posthumously 
     awarded the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports 
     Broadcasting;
       Whereas Ernie Harwell thrilled baseball fans with his 
     signature call of ``That ball is looooong gone!'', and said, 
     ``Baseball is a lot like life. It's a day-to-day existence, 
     full of ups and downs. You make the most of your 
     opportunities in baseball as you do in life.'';
       Whereas Ernie Harwell's low-key delivery and colorful, 
     conversational style are synonymous with baseball and known 
     to fans across the Nation;
       Whereas Ernie Harwell began the first spring training 
     broadcast of each season with a reading from Song of Solomon 
     2:11-12: ``For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and 
     gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the 
     singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is 
     heard in our land.'';
       Whereas for 55 years, Ernie Harwell endeared Americans in 
     his broadcast of over 8,400 baseball games;
       Whereas Ernie Harwell spent 43 of his 55 major league 
     seasons calling games for the Detroit Tigers;
       Whereas Ernie Harwell said, ``I know we're all going at 
     some time, and I'm ready for whatever God's got'';
       Whereas, on May 4, 2010, Ernie Harwell, residing in Novi, 
     Michigan, passed away at the age of 92 after a long career 
     enjoyed by millions; and
       Whereas Ernie Harwell is survived by his beloved wife of 68 
     years, Lulu, their four children, seven grandchildren, and 
     seven great-grandchildren, and by baseball fans across the 
     Nation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors the life and legacy of William Earnest ``Ernie'' 
     Harwell for his significant contributions to Major League 
     Baseball;
       (2) expresses profound sorrow at his passing on May 4, 
     2010; and
       (3) expresses sincere condolences to his wife Lulu, and the 
     rest of his family, friends, colleagues, and admirers.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Towns) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and to extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I now yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 1328, a resolution honoring the life and 
legacy of William ``Ernie'' Harwell. Mr. Harwell, an iconic and beloved 
sportscaster for the Detroit Tigers, passed away on May 4, 2010, at the 
age of 92. During his 55-year career, he delivered the play-by-play for 
more than 8,500 Major League Baseball games, spending more than 40 of 
those years calling games for the Tigers. He became known as the 
``voice of the Tigers'' due to his colorful style of commentary. A 
player called out on a third strike was, he would say, ``called out for 
excessive window shopping.'' A double play was ``two for the price of 
one.'' He finally retired from broadcasting in 2002 while he was still 
in good health, saying he discussed it with his wife and that ``it's 
better to leave too early than too late.''
  Mr. Harwell's love of baseball was also expressed in writings and 
song. In 1955, he wrote, ``The Game for All America,'' an essay 
celebrating Americans' love affair with baseball. Mr. Harwell wrote 
dozens of songs, including one for Hank Aaron when he broke Babe Ruth's 
home run record in 1974.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to 
my distinguished colleague from the State of Michigan (Mrs. Miller).
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday, we from metro 
Detroit and the entire State of Michigan lost a treasure with the 
passing of former Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell.
  For generations of Detroit Tiger fans, Ernie Harwell was literally 
the voice of summer. Day after day, and year after year, that wonderful 
southern gentleman's voice was heard on our radios and made every 
baseball season wonderful, regardless of the number of Tigers' wins and 
losses. Ernie's voice, broadcasting the Tigers games, was a welcome 
friend at family picnics or at the beach. He was with us in our cars as 
we were driving up north on a family vacation. He was with us in our 
yards and in our garages as we did our household chores. The truth of 
the matter is that Ernie Harwell was more than just a baseball 
broadcaster; he was a member of our family. And that is why the loss of 
Ernie Harwell is being mourned by our entire community, Mr. Speaker. 
Whether you are a baseball fan or not, we loved Ernie Harwell because 
he personified integrity, generosity, courtesy, honor, and just pure 
class.
  As a young man, he served our Nation in the United States Marine 
Corps during World War II. For 68 years, he shared his life with his 
beloved wife, Lulu, their four children, seven grandchildren, and seven 
great-grandchildren.
  For more than 40 years, his voice was a welcome friend on our radios. 
And since his retirement 8 years ago, he was still a constant, beloved 
presence in our community. Throughout his life, his charitable acts and 
gentle kindness made him a beloved figure for everyone.
  And last fall, Mr. Speaker, when he found out he was stricken with 
inoperable cancer, Ernie accepted his fate

[[Page H3287]]

with grace because of his deep and abiding faith in God and in the 
knowledge that he had led a wonderful life. Last September, Ernie gave 
a farewell speech before a Tigers game at Comerica Park. I want to read 
from a bit of that speech so you have an understanding of why we all 
loved Ernie Harwell so much. He said:
  ``In my almost 92 years on this Earth, the good Lord has blessed me 
with a great journey. And the blessed part of that journey is that it's 
going to end here in the great State of Michigan. I deeply appreciate 
the people of Michigan. I love their grit. I love the way they face 
life. I love the family values they have. And you Tigers fans are the 
greatest fans of all. No question about that. And I certainly want to 
thank you from the depth of my heart for your devotion, your support, 
your loyalty, and your love. Thank you very much, and God bless you.''
  That's what he said, Mr. Speaker. And we love you too, Ernie.
  Our hearts go out to Ernie's beloved wife, Lulu, for her great loss, 
and we send our thanks to Mrs. Harwell for sharing the man that she 
loved for these many years with millions throughout Michigan and around 
our Nation. And thank you, Ernie, for being such a special part of the 
lives of so many in our community. God bless you, good friend, and may 
you rest in peace.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, this resolution was introduced by our 
colleague, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter), on May 5, 2010. 
It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
which reported the resolution by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. The 
measure enjoys the support of 70 Members of the House.
  I thank the gentleman from Michigan for introducing this measure, and 
I thank the staff along with the ranking member, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Issa), for working to bring this resolution to the 
floor today.
  On that note, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, they say that youth is wasted on the young, and in many 
ways it is. As a kid growing up in Michigan who loved baseball, going 
through those deep winters was very difficult. We would wait for the 
first signs of spring, and one of the surest signs that spring was here 
was the voice of Ernie Harwell. As I was growing up, our Tigers were 
not always at the top of their game. They had some very tough years 
there. But somehow that didn't matter when you listened to Ernie 
Harwell's voice on the radio. When you heard him describe the game of 
baseball, you could understand the majesty and the lore that runs 
through generations. And what was going on on that field to us who were 
listening was very important. And as a child, you tend to think that 
some of the things you inherit or are fortunate enough to happen upon 
will stay that way forever. And in some ways Ernie tried his best. His 
long, distinguished career allowed a kid like me to think that somehow 
that voice would go on forever through that radio, reminding us of the 
joys of what is really a child's game.
  And now Detroit has lost him, the baseball community has lost him, 
but we have not lost the resonance of his voice in our hearts. And 
every time spring comes, we will be reminded not only that the joy of 
the national pastime is back, but we will be reminded of the joy of 
listening to and being with Ernie Harwell.
  Mr. Speaker, I would urge all Members to support the passage of H. 
Res. 1328.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution honoring Mr. Harwell, a colorful character who will be 
deeply missed by the people not only of Michigan, people throughout 
this Nation. I had an opportunity many, many years ago to hear him and 
I will be honest with you, even though my team was losing that day, I 
must admit I enjoyed hearing his voice, even though my team was not on 
top.
  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 New York (Mr. Towns) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1328.
  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. TOWNS. 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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