[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 27 (Friday, February 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING MUHAMMAD ALI ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 70TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 17, 2012

  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I urge my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the achievements of Muhammad Ali on the occasion of his 
70th birthday, being celebrated by the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center 
for Brain Health, Keep Memory Alive, and the Muhammad Ali Center at the 
2012 Power of Love Gala as they all join together to help alleviate 
memory, brain and movement disorders.
  As a boxer, Muhammad Ali is renowned as the first three-time Heavy 
Weight Champion of the World with 56 wins, 5 losses, and 37 knockouts. 
Leading up to his world championships, Mr. Ali won an Olympic Gold 
Medal, Golden Gloves, and an Amateur Athletic Union Championship. Among 
the hundreds of accolades, Mr. Ali has received over the years, he has 
been recognized by Sports Illustrated as ``Sportsman of the Century,'' 
GQ Magazine as ``Athlete of the Century,'' the BBC as ``Sports 
Personality of the Century,'' and the World Sports Award for ``World 
Sportsman of the Century.''
  More than 50 years after winning the Gold Medal at the 1960 Rome 
Olympics, Muhammad Ali remains an endearing figure of both strength and 
compassion, known and beloved throughout the world.
  Internationally, championing the issues of the developing world has 
become a major focus of Muhammad's life. For this, he has received many 
awards and accolades, including Messenger of Peace by the United 
Nations 1998 2008 for his work with developing nations, Amnesty 
International's Lifetime Achievement Award, Germany's 2005 Otto Hahn 
Peace Medal for his involvement in the United Nations and the U.S. 
Civil Rights Movement, and he was named International Ambassador of 
Jubilee 2000, a global organization dedicated to relieving debt in 
developing nations. Muhammad has also been instrumental in providing 
over 232 million meals to the world's hungry.
  In 2005, Muhammad Ali was presented with the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom, our country's highest civilian award, for his life's work. 
Along with his charitable work around the globe, Muhammad has been 
dedicated to helping charities at home as well, including the Muhammad 
Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, founded by Muhammad and his wife, 
Lonnie. The Muhammad Ali Center is a cultural and international 
education center that is inspired by his ideals. The Center serves as 
the global hub for championing the six prevailing core values of his 
life: respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and 
spirituality. Much more than a place to tell the story of one man's 
incredible 70-year journey, the Muhammad Ali Center reaches beyond its 
physical walls to fulfill its mission--in 2012, the Center's activities 
will ensure that future generations understand and actively adopt 
Muhammad's core values to create a powerful new movement: Generation 
Ali.
  In addition to his many philanthropic endeavors, Muhammad Ali is also 
celebrated for the awareness he has brought to Parkinson's disease 
through his own personal battle with the disease. His aim is to 
dramatically accelerate the understanding of Parkinson's disease and 
the pursuit of effective treatments.
  As the Representative for Nevada's First Congressional district, it 
gives me immense pride to celebrate the 70th birthday of Muhammad Ali, 
the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Keep Memory 
Alive, and the Muhammad Ali Center, as they fight to put memory, brain 
and movement disorders down for a final 10-count.

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