[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S1277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          REMEMBERING TOM GOLA

 Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to the 
exceptional life of Tom Gola, a Philadelphia basketball legend, who 
passed away on January 26, 2014.
  Mr. Gola was born on January 13, 1933, to Ike and Helen Gola in 
Philadelphia, PA. His passion for basketball developed early in life 
and he became a star while playing for La Salle College High School. 
While there, he led his team to the Philadelphia Catholic League 
Championship and won the Markward Award as the league's top player.
  As one of the most celebrated high school athletes at the time, many 
expected Mr. Gola to attend one of the big basketball schools in the 
country. Instead, he decided to stay close to home in Pennsylvania to 
attend La Salle University, where he once again quickly distinguished 
himself as a star player. In 1952, he led La Salle to a NIT 
championship, earning the championship's Most Valuable Player Award in 
the process. Two years later, he led the team to its first and only 
NCAA championship, alain earning the honor of tournament MVP. Mr. Gola 
continued his exceptional collegiate basketball career with: a second 
place finish in the 1955 NCAA tournament; Player of the Year Awards in 
1954 and 1955; a place on three consecutive first-team all-American 
squads, and; achieving the NCAA record of 2,201 career rebounds, a 
record which stands today.
  The familiar cheer of ``Go, Gola! Go!'' still echoes in the memories 
of Philadelphia sports fans of a certain age. Another Philadelphia 
sports legend, the great Wilt Chamberlain once said:

       Growing up, you whispered the name of Tom Gola. He was like 
     a saint.

  Following his extraordinary college career, Mr. Gola entered the NBA 
in 1955 to join his hometown team, the Philadelphia Warriors. He helped 
the Warriors win an NBA Championship the following year. He is one of 
only two players who played on NIT, NCAA and NBA championship teams. A 
five-time NBA All-Star, Mr. Gola was enshrined into the Naismith 
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976.
  Following his retirement from the NBA, Mr. Gola focused his 
considerable talents on hi community. He was elected to the 
Pennsylvania House of Representatives and later served as the city of 
Philadelphia's Controller.
  Mr. Gola also returned to his alma mater as the head coach of the La 
Salle Explorers for two seasons. Today, the university's multipurpose 
arena bears his name as a testament to the indelible mark he left on 
the school.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Tom Gola for his 
remarkable achievements in basketball and his service to Pennsylvania. 
My thoughts and pray are with his wife Caroline and his son Thomas as 
they mourn his loss. May he rest in peace.

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