[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 30, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING WILLIAM ``BILL'' RUSSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 30, 2011

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary career of basketball Hall of Famer and America's 2010 
Medal of Freedom Award Recipient, Mr. William ``Bill'' Russell. A 
trailblazer in both athletics and civil rights, Mr. Russell is a five-
time winner of the NBA MVP Award, a 12-time All Star, and winner of 11 
NBA Championships in his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. Today, 
we pay tribute to a living legend, on and off the court. Called ``The 
Greatest Winner of the 20th Century,'' by HBO Sports and ``The Greatest 
Team Player on the Greatest Team of All Time,'' by Sports Illustrated, 
Bill Russell's colleagues, friends and family also know him simply as a 
great human being.
  Born February 12, 1934 in West Monroe, Louisiana to Mr. and Mrs. 
Charles and Katie Russell, Bill moved with his family to Oakland, 
California at the age of eight. A promising athlete at a young age, he 
subsequently led the University of San Francisco to NCAA Championships 
in 1955 and 1956, and was drafted soon after. In 1956, he also led the 
United States Olympic basketball team to a gold medal as team captain.
  Over the years, Mr. Russell captivated fans across the nation with 
14,522 career points, 21,620 career rebounds and 4,100 career assists 
with the Boston Celtics. Noted as the best defensive player in NBA 
history, Mr. Russell continued his career by becoming the first 
African-American head coach in American major league sports with the 
1967 Boston Celtics. He also coached the Seattle Supersonics from 1973 
to 1977 and the Sacramento Kings from 1987 to 1988.
  Following his coaching career, Mr. Russell served his community as an 
active philanthropist, author and public speaker. Having been the first 
NBA player to visit Africa in 1959, Mr. Russell later partnered with 
the NBA and State Department to introduce basketball to Africa as a 
global ambassador. He has since hosted clinics in over 50 countries on 
six continents. He has also served as an active member of the National 
Mentoring Partnership's Board of Directors. Moreover, he has joined 
with one of his three children, Karen, in raising national awareness 
and research for Sarcoidosis, a fibrotic lung disorder that affects 
them both.
  Among Mr. Russell's numerous accolades are an honorary doctorate from 
Suffolk University, an honorary degree from Harvard University and the 
NBA's first Civil Rights Award. Also, in 2009, the NBA Finals MVP 
trophy was renamed: the Bill Russell NBA MVP Award.
  On behalf of the residents of California's 9th congressional 
district, Mr. William ``Bill'' Russell, I salute you. I congratulate 
you on your many achievements, and I thank you for the invaluable 
contributions you have made to the sport of basketball, to communities 
of color, and to residents throughout the Bay Area. I wish you and your 
loved ones continued success, happiness and well-being in the coming 
years.

                          ____________________