[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 57 (Monday, April 20, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO WILLIE CARL MARTIN

 Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to Coach 
Willie Carl Martin of the University of Alabama. After 42 years of 
coaching football in the Alabama public school system and at the 
University of Alabama, Coach Willie Carl Martin is retiring. During his 
high school playing days, he was such an outstanding athlete that the 
late Coach Paul ``Bear'' Bryant offered him a full scholarship to 
Alabama. He was the first African-American to be offered an athletic 
scholarship to the university. He declined the offer and went to 
college at Northeastern State University, where he was a second team 
All-American. He then played professional football in Canada for 6 
years. He returned to his hometown, Alexander City, AL; where he began 
his coaching career as an assistant coach, and then as head football 
coach at Benjamin Russell High School. In 2001, he led Benjamin Russell 
High School to their first and only State Championship. After 25 years 
of a truly outstanding and impressive career in high school coaching, 
Coach Martin was hired as an assistant coach and for player development 
by Alabama's new coach, Nick Saban, in 2007. During his 8 years at 
Alabama, he had an instrumental part in Alabama winning three SEC 
championships and three national championships.
  Willie Carl has demonstrated exceptional academic and professional 
careers both in teaching and coaching young students. He is a loyal, 
dedicated individual who has always had time for his students and 
players. He is generous with his time with others, regardless of their 
station in life. He is fortunate enough to have a wife, Leslie, as well 
as two lovely daughters and grandchildren, who have stood by him in all 
of his endeavors. I know they, along with his other numerous friends 
and family, will join me in proclaiming May 12, 2015, as Willie Carl 
Martin Day in Alexander City, AL.

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