[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 3, 2017)]
[House]
[Page H3071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING PAUL PACKER ON INDUCTION INTO NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF
FAME
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I recently attended the
24th Honors Banquet for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National
Wrestling Hall of Fame. Nine new Members were inducted into the Hall's
membership, including Paul Packer, a 1973 Bald Eagle Area High School
graduate.
Paul was the last 95-pound State champion in 1972. He had an
undefeated season that year of 23-0. He started wrestling in elementary
school for Hall of Fame coach Joe Humphreys, who continued to coach
Paul into junior high. At the varsity level, Paul wrestled for Hall of
Famer Dick Rhoades. He was Coach Rhoades' first State champion.
After his competitive wrestling career was over, Paul became a
referee. Paul was a highly respected and outstanding wrestling
official. During his 37 years as a referee, Paul spent more than a
dozen years officiating district and regional championships, as well as
five State championships.
Paul is retired and resides in Milesburg, Pennsylvania. He is active
in his community and was a coach for the Bald Eagle Wrestling Club for
several years.
Mr. Speaker, from one Hall of Famer to another, congratulations,
Paul, on this well-deserved honor.
Pennsylvania's Fifth District Congressional Art Competition Winners
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce
the winners of the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District
Congressional Art Competition.
On Saturday, an independent panel of judges viewed 37 submissions of
artwork at the Winkler Gallery of Fine Art in DuBois, Pennsylvania.
Entries were at an all-time high this year, and I am so proud of all of
our students who showcased their talent in this competition.
First place goes to Cassy Lester of Reynoldsville for her acrylic
painting titled ``Chocolate Lab.'' Cassy is a student at Jeff Tech, a
career and technology education center, and her teacher is Ms. Angela
Dragich.
Congratulations, Cassy. We look forward to hosting you here in
Washington, D.C., with the rest of the winners from throughout the
Nation.
Proudly, Cassy's artwork will hang in the tunnel to the Capitol for 1
year.
The other runners up are Madelyn Ostermann of Fort LeBoeuf High
School for her entry titled ``Eyes,'' and Alexander Spangler of
Bellefonte Area High School for his entry titled ``Tracks of
Ingenuity.''
We also had several honorable mentions, including ``Self Portrait''
by Megan DiNicola of Fort LeBoeuf High School, ``True Colors'' by
Maggie Prutznal of Punxsutawney Area High School, ``Jungle Scene'' by
Allison Copella of DuBois Area High School, ``Emmaleigh'' by Kailynn
Morrison of Oil City High School, ``Wondrous Wonders'' by Willow Felver
of Fort LeBoeuf High School, ``Wonderwall'' by Kassidy Hall of Fort
LeBoeuf High School, and ``Thomas L. Kelly'' by Margaret Morgenstern of
Fort LeBoeuf High School.
Mr. Speaker, each spring the Congressional Art Competition takes
place, hosted by the Congressional Institute. The nationwide high
school visual art competition recognizes and encourages artistic talent
in the Nation and in each congressional district.
Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than
650,000 high school students have participated. The vision, talent, and
creativity of our high school students always makes me so proud.
Thank you to all the students from Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional
District who shared their masterpieces this weekend, and I hope to see
you again next year if you are eligible to showcase your work.
Mr. Speaker, I offer congratulations to our first-place winner,
Cassy.
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