[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 87 (Monday, June 11, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SUPPORTING JERRY KRAMER

 Mr. CRAPO: Mr. President, my colleague, Senator Jim Risch, 
joins me today in highlighting the career of one of Idaho's most 
distinguished football players, Jerry Kramer.
  Jerry graduated from Sandpoint High School, in the northern part of 
our State, and attended college at the University of Idaho on a 
football scholarship. He was a standout player there, garnering 
selections to both the East-West Shrine Game and College All-Star Game.
  After being drafted 39th, he signed on to play for the Green Bay 
Packers in 1958, and as football fans know, was part of a championship 
dynasty during his 11 playing years. He was an integral part of the 
famous ``Packer Sweep'' as the lead blocker for a running back going 
around the end.
  Jerry Kramer is perhaps most famously known for ``The Block'' where 
he led quarterback Bart Starr into the end zone as time ran out in the 
1967 NFL Championship game, defeating the Dallas Cowboys in what is 
known as the ``Ice Bowl.''
  Jerry Kramer was a five-time All-Pro, a member of five championship 
teams, including the first two Super Bowls, and a member of the NFL's 
50th Anniversary All-Time team. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade 
Team of the 1960s at offensive guard and led the NFL in field goal 
percentage in 1962.
  Surprisingly, Jerry Kramer is the only player selected to the NFL's 
50th Anniversary team who has not been inducted into the Pro Football 
Hall of Fame in Canton, OH.
  It is time for this oversight to be corrected. Jerry Kramer is highly 
regarded. Sixteen current members of the NFL Hall of Fame, many who 
played against Kramer, have endorsed his nomination and election to the 
Hall. That list of players includes such greats as Roger Staubach, 
Frank Gifford, Alan Page, Bob Lilly, Jan Stenerud, Gino Marchetti and 
Coach Joe Gibbs, to name just a few.
  There is no doubt in my mind, and certainly not in the mind of my 
colleague, Senator Risch, who highly favors his native State's Green 
Bay Packers, that Jerry Kramer's NFL career clearly qualifies him for 
induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
  Besides his contributions on the football field, Jerry is a highly 
regarded citizen of Idaho who gives his time to worthy causes. Idahoans 
are very proud of his accomplishments and football fans throughout the 
state support his induction.
  As Idaho's U.S. Senators, we support Jerry Kramer's selection to the 
Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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