[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7461-H7463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1440
COMMENDING BOB SHEPPARD
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1529) commending Bob Sheppard for his long and
respected career as the public-address announcer for the New York
Yankees and the New York Giants.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1529
Whereas Bob Sheppard served as the public-address announcer
for the New York Yankees from opening day in 1951 through
2007;
[[Page H7462]]
Whereas Bob Sheppard served as the public-address announcer
for the New York Giants from 1956 through 2005;
Whereas Bob Sheppard announced at 62 World Series games, 2
All-Star Games, and introduced more than 72 Hall of Famers
throughout his career, with his often-heard, booming voice
eventually earning him the nickname ``The Voice of God'';
Whereas Bob Sheppard utilized his great oratory skills not
only in the sports arena, but as the chairman of the speech
department at John Adams High School in Queens, New York, and
as an adjunct professor of speech at St. John's University;
Whereas Bob Sheppard was honored for his 50 memorable years
of service as the announcer at Yankee Stadium with ``Bob
Sheppard Day'', celebrated on May 7, 2000, and with a
permanent plaque in Monument Park behind Yankee Stadium in
the Bronx;
Whereas Bob Sheppard's clear, distinctive voice has set the
standard of sports announcing, and has become ingrained in
the fans and players as a widely recognized and revered
Yankees tradition;
Whereas Bob Sheppard's voice will continue to live on as
the recorded introduction of Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter;
Whereas Bob Sheppard lived for 70 years in Baldwin, New
York, and spent 4 years playing in semi-professional football
leagues on Long Island, including the Valley Stream Red
Raiders and the Hempstead Monitors; and
Whereas Bob Sheppard died on July 11, 2010, at his home in
Baldwin, New York, at age 99: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the legacy of Bob Sheppard and his
distinctive announcements as a revered tradition not only to
the New York Yankees and the New York Giants, but also to the
games of baseball and football and the field of sports
announcing; and
(2) commends Bob Sheppard for his 52 years of service as a
public-address announcer and his long tenure as a speech
professor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from California
(Mr. Bilbray) 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 may
have 5 legislative 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 now yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, I am proud to present H. Res. 1529 for
consideration. This legislation commends Bob Sheppard for his long and
respected career as the public-address announcer for the New York
Yankees and the New York Giants. Introduced by my friend and colleague,
Representative Carolyn McCarthy of New York, on July 15, 2010, H. Res.
1529 was favorably reported out of the Oversight and Government Reform
Committee on September 23, 2010. In addition, this legislation enjoys
the support of over 50 Members of Congress.
Mr. Speaker, born on October 20, 1910, in Queens, New York, Bob
Sheppard served as the public-address announcer for the New York
Yankees from opening day in 1951 through 2007 and was also the PA
announcer for the New York Giants from 1956 through 2005. During this
period, Mr. Sheppard announced 4,500 Yankees baseball games, including
22 pennant-winning seasons and 13 World Series championships.
Additionally, during his half century covering the New York Giants, Mr.
Sheppard announced nine conference championships and three NFL
championships.
Mr. Sheppard prided himself on being clear, concise, and correct; and
his distinctive style earned him the nickname ``the voice of God,''
which was first coined by Yankee Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson. Mr.
Sheppard's distinctive style has set the standard of sports announcing,
and as New York Times writer Richard Goldstein notes, ``In an era of
blaring stadium music, of public-address announcers styling themselves
as entertainers and cheerleaders, Mr. Sheppard, a man with a passion
for poetry and Shakespeare, shunned hyperbole.''
Notably, Mr. Sheppard did not limit his oratory skills to the
baseball diamond and the football field. In fact, he also served as
chairman of the speech department at the John Adams High School in
Queens and as an adjunct professor of speech at St. John's University
in the Bronx. For his tireless dedication to his craft, Mr. Sheppard
was elected to the St. John's University Sports Hall of Fame, the Long
Island Sports Hall of Fame, and the New York Sports Hall of Fame. He
also received honorary doctorates from St. John's University and
Fordham University and received the St. John's Medal of Honor, the
highest award that the university can confer on a graduate, in 2007.
On May 7, 2000, Mr. Sheppard's legacy was enshrined in Yankee
Stadium's Monument Park with a plaque that reads: ``Bob Sheppard, the
voice of Yankee Stadium. For half a century he has welcomed generations
of fans with his trademark greeting, `Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to
Yankee Stadium.' His clear, concise, and correct vocal style has
announced the names of hundreds of players--both unfamiliar and
legendary--with equal divine reference, making him as synonymous with
Yankee Stadium as its copper facade and Monument Park.'' Sadly, on July
11, 2010, Mr. Sheppard passed away at the age of 99 in his home in
Baldwin, New York.
Mr. Speaker, let us further honor the life and legacy of Mr. Sheppard
through the passage of H. Res. 1529, which recognizes his distinctive
style of announcing, influence on the entire field of sports
announcing, and also commends him on his 52 years of service as a
public-address announcer and speech professor. I urge my colleagues to
join me in supporting H. Res. 1529.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1529,
commending Bob Sheppard in his long and respected career.
At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to have the honor of yielding
to the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) so that she has plenty
of time to address this item.
Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank my
colleague. I want to thank Ms. Norton and again my colleague and I want
to thank everybody on the committee.
I do rise today to ask my colleagues to support H. Res. 1529,
commending Bob Sheppard for his long and respected career as the
public-address announcer for the New York Yankees and the New York
Giants. As someone who has spent my whole life in New York, his voice
was very, very distinctive not only to New Yorkers but to many, many of
my colleagues across the country.
On July 11, 2010, Mr. Sheppard passed away at the age of 99 in his
home in Baldwin, which is part of my district, the Fourth Congressional
District in New York. Mr. Sheppard was a constant in sports announcing
for over 50 years. His distinctive voice was recognized by both players
and fans. Each game began with his trademark cadence--as we in New York
kind of talk sometimes funny--``Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,
and welcome to Yankee Stadium.''
He performed the role as a public-address announcer at Yankee Stadium
from opening day in 1951 through the year 2007, and as the public
address announcer for the New York Giants from 1956 through the year
2005. At the age of 62, he announced the World Series games, two All-
Star games, and has introduced more than 72 Hall-of-Famers throughout
his career. He will always be remembered for his clear, concise, and
correct announcements and pronunciations, taking pride in the name of
every player he introduced.
Bob Sheppard utilized his great oratory skills not only in the sports
arena but, as was mentioned, as the chairman of the speech department
at John Adams High School in Queens and as professor of speech at St.
John's University. Bob Sheppard was honored for his 50 memorable years
of service as the announcer at Yankee Stadium with Bob Sheppard Day,
celebrated on May 7, 2000, and with a permanent plaque in Monument Park
behind Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. His voice will always continue to
live on as the recorded introduction of Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter.
My resolution serves to recognize the legacy of Bob Sheppard and his
distinctive announcing style as a revered tradition not only to the New
York Yankees and to the New York Giants, but also, as I said earlier,
to the games of baseball and football and the field of
[[Page H7463]]
sports announcing. I do want to thank my 52 colleagues, cosponsors of
the resolution, including many Members who are fans of other teams. I
have to say, though, the majority of us were over a certain age that
certainly remembered Bob. Additionally, the resolution commends Mr.
Sheppard for his 52 years of service in the field of sports announcing
and his dedication to spreading his knowledge and skill through
teaching speech at both the high school and the college levels.
Today, we do salute Bob Sheppard. I ask my colleagues to support this
resolution.
Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in
supporting this measure, 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. 1529.
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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