[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E23-E24]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING COACH FRANK BEAMER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 8, 2016

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Coach Frank Beamer on 
the occasion of his retirement as the head football coach of Virginia 
Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), located in 
Blacksburg, Virginia, as he concludes his highly successful career. For 
almost three decades, Coach Beamer has been a tremendous leader in 
Virginia, and a mentor to hundreds of student athletes.
  In twenty nine seasons under Coach Beamer's leadership, Virginia Tech 
Football has enjoyed unprecedented success, notching 237 wins, three 
Big East championships, four Atlantic Coast Conference championships, 
and the opportunity to play for a national championship. His ``Beamer 
Ball'' style of play has led Virginia Tech to become one of the 
nation's most respected college football programs. In 1999, Coach 
Beamer was named the consensus Associated Press College Football Coach 
of the Year.
  Coach Beamer's first postseason berth as head coach at Virginia Tech 
was a trip to the 1993 Independence Bowl game which resulted in a 
victory for the Hokies. It was only fitting that Coach Beamer ended his 
coaching career with a 55-52 victory over the University of Tulsa in 
the 2015 Independence Bowl, capping off a school record 23 straight 
postseason bowl games.
  Raised in Hillsville, Virginia, Coach Beamer graduated from 
Hillsville High School where

[[Page E24]]

he earned eleven varsity letters as a three-sport athlete in football, 
basketball, and baseball. He went on to attend Virginia Tech as an 
undergraduate and started three years as a cornerback, playing on the 
Hokie's 1966 and 1968 Liberty Bowl teams. While attending Radford 
University to receive his master's degree in guidance, he began his 
coaching career in 1969 as an assistant at Radford High School. From 
there he went on to work as a graduate assistant at Maryland for one 
year, followed by the Citadel for five seasons, where he was defensive 
coordinator for two of them. In 1979, Coach Beamer joined Murray State 
University as defensive coordinator and was named head coach in 1981. 
In 1987, Coach Beamer made his way back to his native Southwest 
Virginia to take the reins at Virginia Tech. He has brought honor to 
Southwest Virginia and Virginia Tech by always being the consummate 
Virginia gentlemen and a darn good coach to boot. He has devoted his 
time and passion to the teams he has coached as well as the greater 
Southwest Virginia community. In 2004, he was presented with a 
Humanitarian Award by the National Conference for Community and Justice 
for his contributions to fostering justice, equity, and community in 
the Roanoke Valley.
  As evidenced by his incredible success, Coach Beamer has much to be 
proud of, and can look back on an honest and accomplished career. His 
passion for coaching led him to achieve what many coaches dream of. He 
has shaped futures and touched lives in Virginia and the nation that 
extend generations. This is the true measure of a great coach.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to help commemorate the career of a 
remarkable man. After twenty nine years of dedicated leadership to 
Virginia Tech and the greater community, I would like to thank Coach 
Beamer for his service. I wish him and his family all of the best in 
retirement.

                          ____________________