[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 2, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E398-E399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING JACK CRISTIL FOR HIS STORIED CAREER AT MISSISSIPPI STATE 
                               UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREGG HARPER

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 2011

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Jack Cristil of 
Tupelo, Mississippi for his

[[Page E399]]

contribution to sports radio and television broadcasting, and 
specifically the state of Mississippi through his dedicated service as 
a Mississippi State University (MSU) announcer. For 58 years, Cristil 
has been at the microphone broadcasting across the radio airwaves for 
Mississippi State football and basketball games.
  Cristil began his career calling minor league baseball games in 
Tennessee and Alabama and later moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi to 
call high school football games. In 1953, Cristil was hired by MSU's 
Athletic Director C.R. ``Dudy'' Noble as the voice of the Bulldogs and 
Mississippi State football games. Four years later, in 1957, Cristil 
began to broadcast MSU basketball games as well.
  Cristil is a recipient of the Ronald Reagan Lifetime Achievement 
award, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Broadcaster of the Year in 
1988 and a 21-time winner of the Mississippi Broadcaster of the Year. 
Additionally, he was a recipient the Chris Shenkel Award in 1997 by the 
College Football Hall of Fame as well as being a 1991 inductee to the 
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
  On February 23, 2011, Cristil announced that due to urgent health 
reasons he would call his final Mississippi State University basketball 
game the following Saturday. Last weekend, millions of sports fans 
nationwide were privileged to listen briefly to Cristil's final 
broadcast during the Mississippi State versus the University of 
Tennessee basketball game when ESPN announcers went silent for a few 
moments allowing Cristil's live radio feed to broadcast over national 
television.
  Cristil was known for his commitment to journalistic professionalism 
in his broadcasts as well as his unique and trademark expressions such 
as, ``You can wrap this game in maroon and white!'' and ``Welcome to a 
sun-bathed Scott Field at Davis Wade Stadium on the beautiful campus of 
Mississippi State University!''
  To quote a story from the Jackson, Mississippi newspaper, The 
Clarion-Ledger, the following is a great representation of Cristil's 
attitude and personality:
  ``Of a State--Alabama football game when Bob Hope was on tour and 
doing a show that night in Tuscaloosa, unbeknownst to Cristil. Bear 
Bryant's boys, as usual, were beating up on State when somebody came by 
the visitors' radio booth and whispered to Cristil, `Hope is available 
at halftime if you want him.' Responded Cristil, `Fellow, I need some 
hope right now.' But Bob Hope did come by and did do the interview. 
`One of the best halftime guests I ever had,' Cristil says. `Funny and 
smart.' ''
  In his career, Cristil has broadcast over 1,500 basketball games and 
636 football games, which is nearly 63 percent and 55 percent, 
respectively, of all of Mississippi State's games.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Jack Cristil's broadcasting 
career and service to Mississippi State University by saying as Jack 
Cristil would say: ``You can wrap it in maroon and white!''

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