[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 96 (Thursday, June 16, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4304-S4305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE RESOLUTION 497--HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF GORDON 
                            ``GORDIE'' HOWE

  Ms. STABENOW (for herself and Mr. Peters) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 497

       Whereas Gordon Howe (in this preamble referred to as 
     ``Gordie Howe'') was born in Floral, Saskatchewan, Canada, on 
     March 31, 1928, and was invited to his first tryout with a 
     professional hockey team at 15 years of age;
       Whereas Gordie Howe entered the National Hockey League (in 
     this preamble referred to as the ``NHL'') in 1946 at 18 years 
     of age when he joined the Detroit Red Wings and scored a goal 
     in his very first game;
       Whereas Gordie Howe played right wing on the ``Production 
     Line'', the most productive offensive scoring unit in the NHL 
     from the late 1940s through the mid-1950s;
       Whereas Gordie Howe played 25 seasons with the Detroit Red 
     Wings and led the team to 4 Stanley Cup championships;
       Whereas, in 1972, Gordie Howe was inducted into the Hockey 
     Hall of Fame;
       Whereas, in 1973, Gordie Howe joined the Houston Aeros of 
     the World Hockey Association (in this preamble referred to as 
     the ``WHA'') to fulfill a dream of playing hockey on the same 
     professional team as his sons;
       Whereas Gordie Howe proceeded to win the Most Valuable 
     Player award of the WHA and lead the Houston Aeros to the WHA 
     championship;

[[Page S4305]]

       Whereas Gordie Howe retired from professional hockey in 
     1980, having scored 1,850 career points in the NHL, which are 
     the third most of all time;
       Whereas Gordie Howe appeared in 23 NHL All-Star games, led 
     the NHL in scoring 6 times, and won the Hart Memorial Trophy 
     as the most valuable player in the league 6 times;
       Whereas, in 1997, at the age of 69, Gordie Howe came out of 
     retirement to join the Detroit Vipers of the International 
     Hockey League and became the first player ever to play 
     professional hockey in 6 different decades;
       Whereas the ``Gordie Howe hat trick'', a goal, an assist, 
     and a fight in the same game, is named after Gordie Howe, 
     though he had only 2 such games in his career;
       Whereas Gordie Howe is considered one of the greatest 
     hockey players of all time and to millions of fans worldwide 
     will always be known as ``Mr. Hockey'';
       Whereas Gordie Howe was predeceased by his wife of 56 
     years, Colleen Howe, who died in 2009 and was affectionately 
     known as ``Mrs. Hockey'';
       Whereas Gordie Howe is so beloved throughout the United 
     States and Canada that a new international bridge connecting 
     Detroit and Windsor has been named in his honor;
       Whereas, on June 10, 2016, Gordie Howe died at 88 years of 
     age, after a long career enjoyed by millions; and
       Whereas Gordie Howe is survived by his 4 children, many 
     grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a sister, and by 
     hockey fans across the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the life and legacy of Gordon ``Gordie'' Howe 
     for his significant contributions to the sport of hockey and 
     the city of Detroit;
       (2) expresses its deepest sympathies and condolences to the 
     family of Gordie Howe on his passing; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of 
     Gordie Howe.

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