[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 26, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S1171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING WALTER ``DOC'' HURLEY

 Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, earlier this month, a Hartford 
icon, Walter ``Doc'' Hurley, passed away at the age of 91. For some, 
Doc was a teacher, for others a coach, and for many more he was a 
dedicated philanthropist and friend. No matter what role he played at 
any given time, Doc Hurley worked his entire life to positively impact 
the Hartford community, and he will be sorely missed.
  Doc led an eclectic and inspiring life. After attending Weaver High 
School in the North End of Hartford, he served in World War II as a 
marine. Upon coming home from the war, he finished college, worked as a 
teacher in Virginia, and spent a brief stint as a professional football 
player in the All-American Football Conference before finally returning 
to Hartford in 1959.
  It was when he became vice principal at Weaver High School in 
Hartford that he began in earnest his lifelong goal of inspiring 
students to pursue a college degree. The most visible piece of Hurley's 
lasting legacy in the community is the Doc Hurley Scholarship 
Foundation and the renowned Doc Hurley Scholarship Basketball Classic. 
Over the years, Doc's foundation was responsible for awarding more than 
$570,000 in scholarships to 550 high school seniors. Many of these 
students who went on to successful careers owe their start to Doc 
Hurley and his scholarship foundation. Doc was a once-in-a-generation 
mentor, coach, teacher, and positive inspiration for Hartford's youth.
  Last October, I held an antiviolence basketball tournament for nearly 
1,000 kids with the University of Connecticut men's basketball team in 
the field house that bears Doc Hurley's name at Weaver High School. I 
was proud to have had the chance to work with him on that basketball 
tournament and, more importantly I will work to continue his legacy of 
encouraging Hartford's students to achieve their highest potential.
  I join everyone in Hartford and around Connecticut in celebrating the 
life of Walter ``Doc'' Hurley and mourning the loss of this great 
man.

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