[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 54 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H1429-H1434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING BRUCE ROLLINSON
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack) is recognized
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
General Leave
Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
submit extraneous material for the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, in this magnificent Chamber, we have honored
Presidents and other heads of state. We have honored titans of business
and industry, science and medicine, the arts and entertainment, and
academia and sports. Young and old, we have welcomed the best and
brightest America has to offer, and we have been the envy of the world
when it comes to personal achievement.
Mr. Speaker, that is why I am here today, to recognize and honor an
individual with remarkable accomplishment. His name is Bruce Rollinson.
He is affectionately known as Rollo.
For the past 34 years, he has been the head football coach of one of
America's truly elite high school football teams, the Mater Dei
Monarchs of Santa Ana, California.
Rollo announced some weeks ago that he was going to retire from
coaching. Now, as a fan of high school athletics, I could not let the
moment pass without recognizing this legend in coaching.
I first got to know Rollo back in 2019 when he brought his football
team to the Nation's Capital for a game against one of this area's top
teams. I was asked by a parent of one of his players to escort the team
through the United States Capitol. Little did I know that team happened
to be the Nation's top-ranked high school football team and was led by
a young quarterback who was on his way to glory.
That quarterback was a kid named Bryce Young, who that very week had
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decommitted from the University of Southern California and announced to
the world that he was going to become a member of the Crimson Tide at
Alabama. As you know, this young man became the second such player
under Coach Rollinson to win the coveted Heisman Trophy.
The tour became one of my favorite memories of my service in
Congress. The relationship I forged with Rollo and his staff and
players has been life-enhancing for me.
While most who follow Mater Dei and Coach Rollinson are well aware of
the records, well aware of the championships and the elite style of
football they represent, I became fascinated with Bruce the man, not
just the coach, and his legacy of building young men of character and
positioning them for success.
Football was his method. Excellence was always the goal. Mr. Speaker,
the results speak for themselves.
Today, Mr. Speaker, we are going to highlight a lot of Rollo's
credentials. It is fitting, in my judgment, to begin this tribute with
a colleague of mine who knows the Mater Dei success story better than
anyone in this Chamber and certainly anyone in Congress. He is Mike
Gallagher. He is a Mater Dei alum, and he is here to share some
personal insights into this man we honor today.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher).
Mr. GALLAGHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a proud Mater Dei graduate, a
proud Mater Dei Monarch, and I rise to honor a Rollinson, but probably
not the one you are thinking of.
Laurie Rollinson was my AP U.S. history teacher and imbued in me a
love of United States history, a fascination with our country's history
and values. The more I think about it and look back on it, it set me on
a path to not only further exploring those issues in college and
graduate school but to serving my country in the United States Marine
Corps and, ultimately, serving my country in the United States
Congress.
{time} 1145
Among Coach Rollinson's many accolades, perhaps none is higher than
he out-kicked his coverage in terms of the woman he married, and she
had a profound impact on my life. Thank you to Laurie Rollinson, though
we are here today to recognize Coach Bruce Rollinson.
The other reason--I just want to mention the true power in the
Rollinson house because--and this is a bit of a shameful confession--I
was a nerd in high school. I spent more time studying for Mrs.
Rollinson's class than I did pursuing athletic excellence. I was not a
member of the Mater Dei football team. I went to many a game and
cheered on from afar.
In fact, I actually played flag football with the other Heisman
trophy winner that Coach Rollinson coached, Matt Leinart, in junior
high. I was so bad, I dropped every pass that Matt Leinart threw to me.
I was intimidated to play--too intimidated to play for Rollo.
Even if you weren't on the team, any student at Mater Dei was
profoundly impacted by Coach Rollinson. There was nothing better at
Mater Dei than a pep rally before a big game in which Coach Rollinson
would come out there with his raspy voice and fire up the entire
student body.
I have been to 8th & I ceremonies in the Marine Corps. I have been to
all sorts of fancy State visits. There is nothing with more energy and
more excitement than a Mater Dei pep rally where Coach Rollinson is
talking to the student body.
The thing that Coach Rollinson did was not talk about the Xs and Os
of football, that would have gone way over my head. I would have
immediately stuffed myself back into a locker if that was the topic of
conversation. He connected the playing of football to the pursuit of
excellence and what we were all there to do, which was to honor God.
Part of the Mater Dei mission--I have always felt since I started to
learn a bit more about the combination of athletic excellence, academic
excellence and leadership, I found that there are a lot of similarities
between Mater Dei's core values and the core values of the United
States Marine Corps.
We say: Honor, courage, commitment in the United States Marine Corps.
They say: Honor, glory, and love at Mater Dei. I found myself thinking
a lot about those core values.
Honor: What does it mean to pursue honor on a football field?
I would argue that there is honor in simply doing your job well,
regardless of what position you play.
As Coach Rollinson famously said: ``You create the effort, God
controls the outcome.'' There is honor in putting in the effort on the
field in order to do your absolute best. That culture of honor and
excellence permeated Mater Dei, and it was a direct result of Coach
Rollinson's leadership.
We honor God simply by doing our job well: whether you are a coach,
whether you are a player, whether you are a United States Congressman,
whether you are a President, whether you are anybody pursuing honorable
work.
In the Marine Corps we talk about this as ``ductus exemplo,'' ``lead
by example.'' Do your job well and you can inspire others.
Glory: Glory is obvious on a football field. I have colleagues who
are national champions. Coach is a four-time national champion. You
have had your share of glory on the football field. You have also
probably had your share of setbacks and heartbreak, but ultimately you
are not there to glorify yourself, you are not there to glorify even
the program, per se. It is all about glorifying God, glorifying that
pursuit of excellence, and glorifying the community that you are an
integral part of building at Mater Dei High School.
Glory on the football field translated to a sense that we are all
part of something greater than ourselves at Mater Dei. It was as
palpable as a student. That is a direct result of your leadership,
Coach Rollinson.
Finally, love: I don't want to get all, you know--we don't do a lot
of trust falls and hugging here in the House Republican Caucus. I think
the reason that football is so compelling, even more so than any of the
other sports, is this sense of sacrifice and genuine love for your
teammates, more so than any other sport. I think it is a pure team
sport. That willingness to sacrifice for your teammates is the ultimate
expression of love and leadership, I would argue.
Coach Rollinson, your ability to instill those values--those core
values of honor, glory, and love--into everything that you did in
leading the Mater Dei football team had a profound impact not only on
the lives of the players that played their hearts out for you, but on
the lives of every single student that walked through the doors of
Mater Dei High School.
I still think about it to this day. Though, I regret not being able
to call myself a former player of yours, I feel that I owe you a
significant debt of gratitude for setting that example of leadership
that I got to witness at a very early age.
We can list all your titles, we can list your wins, we can list your
national championships, we can list all the great players that you
coached, but it is impossible to quantify the impact that you have had
on tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives because of
what you meant to Mater Dei High School.
Thank you, Coach Rollinson, not only for everything you accomplished
on the field, but for everything that you accomplished off the field. I
stand in awe of it.
I am reminded of the quote--let me paraphrase it a little bit: Some
men have to spend their whole lives wondering if they made a
difference. You do not have to wonder about that, Coach Rollinson. You
have made a profound difference on the lives of thousands of young men
and women who attended Mater Dei High School.
Thank you for your leadership. It is an honor to be here today. You
have even inspired colleagues from other parts of the country to come
here on the floor of the United States House of Representatives to
honor your accomplishments.
Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, back in October I was invited by our current
majority leader, then the minority whip, to accompany him on a West
Coast swing. We landed in Santa Ana, California, about 2 hours ahead of
a program that we were going to have.
I asked the whip at the time: What are we going to do for 2 hours?
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I think the answer was: I don't know. We will go find some coffee or
we will kill some time before our program begins at 5.
I said: Well, I have an idea, why don't we Google how far Mater Dei
High School is, and let's go over there and watch the high school
football team play. They are going to practice in a few minutes. He
agreed to do that, and we did.
It was a remarkable visit: five Members of Congress with a police
escort pulling up to Mater Dei, and getting to see this remarkable
football team ready to practice.
My colleague, Mr. Gallagher, talked about sacrifice. This next
gentleman is a living example of somebody who has endured personal
sacrifice on behalf of something greater than himself--this country.
Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to yield to the gentleman
from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the distinguished majority leader of the
U.S. House of Representatives, and my friend.
Mr. SCALISE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Arkansas for the
introduction, but I especially thank him for having the idea to call
Coach Rollo, as we call him, and say: Can these Members of Congress
come on over and spend a few minutes to see what true excellence is all
about?
That was a treat that we got to experience for that next hour and a
half or so, to watch what so many young men through the years got to
experience.
You can only think of the joy and the treat it was for those students
at Mater Dei High School who had the great fortune to play for Coach
Bruce Rollinson over those years. We just saw it in a brief period of
time, and since getting to know him over these last few months, we see
what kind of leader of men Coach Rollo is. We surely saw it in the eyes
of those young high school students.
Although, I will say, when I was looking up to some of those six-
foot-plus linemen, many of them looked like they might have played for
the New Orleans Saints. I would have encouraged a few of them to go and
play for--I didn't want to get into trouble and encourage them to play
for my alma mater of LSU, but they could have been playing in the NFL.
In fact, many have gone on to play at higher levels.
This year, maybe the number one pick in the NFL draft, Bryce Young,
had the honor of playing for Coach Rollo, as did Matt Leinart, who
tried to throw a pass to my colleague, Congressman Gallagher.
The treat was just watching the character of those young men at Mater
Dei High School. That doesn't happen by accident, it comes through
leadership.
As Coach Rollo and I were talking about earlier, I am sure when
people look at his career--and we didn't know at the time that he was
going to retire when we met with him just a few months ago. At the
time, his team was the number one high school team in the country. That
was not anything new to Coach Rollo.
A lot of people would look at all of the accolades. For a State as
large as California to win eight State championships, six of those were
deemed national titles--a high school national champion. That doesn't
just happen by itself.
Sure, it takes great players, but to do it year-in and year-out and
to build that record of excellence, it takes a special leader--a leader
who touches the hearts of young men and shapes them.
What I recognized the most, it wasn't about the size or the physical
abilities of these high school players, it was their character. You
could see it just as we were talking to them.
They were all incredibly polite and respectful. They were eager to
learn from Coach Rollo. They came to learn from him, and that is what a
real leader is all about.
As we talked about earlier, we had the opportunity to listen to Drew
Brees a few days ago. Of course, I have known Drew for many years, as a
fan of the New Orleans Saints I had gotten to know him--talk about a
person of character who led us not only to a Super Bowl, but he would
probably tell you the NFL Man of the Year Award--the Walter Payton Man
of the Year Award might be the accomplishment he appreciates the most
because it really signifies what he did in communities.
One of the things he said to us the other day, he was talking about
how young people--he was talking about it in relation to his kids. They
might not always listen to what you say, but they watch everything you
do. All of those young men got to watch Coach Rollo and watch his
leadership. That is what really lasts with them.
The trophies and the championships, those are all things that you can
put up on a shelf. You saw three Heisman trophies in a box in that
school, but it was really the character and the values that he stands
for.
The old sports adage that ``game recognizes game.'' I have another
great high school coach in my State, Coach J.T. Curtis--John Curtis. He
won State championships, multiple championships, over the years. He was
the second most-winning high school coach in the country. He won this
year's State championship in Louisiana.
{time} 1200
I texted him. I said: I don't know if you know him, but I am here
with Coach Rollo at Mater Dei High School.
He texted me back, and he said: I know Coach Rollo. We got to run
into each other.
He knew who you were, and he had nothing but tremendous respect for
you and what you have done.
When I saw him the night when he won the State championship a few
weeks ago in Louisiana, I said: Do you know that Coach Rollo just
announced he is retiring?
He didn't know that yet. He almost teared up because of the respect
that he has for you.
So as Congressman Gallagher said a little while ago, while you have
touched the hearts of so many at Mater Dei High School, your legendary
character and your values transcend and reach people all across this
great country.
I appreciate that my colleague from Arkansas took the time to reach
out and that we got to go and spend some time with you because
everybody who has gotten the opportunity to meet with you has come out
a better person.
Thank you for your years dedicated to young men. I know there are
better things ahead for you in the future. This isn't the last chapter.
What a legacy you have left for so many.
Congratulations to you, Coach, on your many years of service at Mater
Dei.
Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader for his remarks.
Mr. Speaker, another Member of Congress who was on that trip to the
West Coast was my friend from Texas, Pat Fallon. Pat played for Lou
Holtz at Notre Dame--a national championship when he was there. I have
got to tell you, Mr. Speaker, when we walked in the foyer of the
gymnasium and saw the trophy case with three prominent Heisman Trophies
side by side, it made an impression on me because you can walk into
virtually any high school in America and not see one. But at Mater Dei
there are three, and one of those, in particular, ended up moving on to
the University of Notre Dame where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1964.
Here to share some of his insights, as well, based on that trip is my
friend from Texas, Pat Fallon.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Fallon).
Mr. FALLON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the colonel for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I think it shouldn't be lost on anyone watching that the
gentleman is talking about service and selflessness. We have a colonel
who dedicated his life to this country both serving here on the House
floor and also in the United States military.
One of the greater Americans that you will know, Mr. Speaker, from
the 21st century is Steve Scalise, and then we have the coach, Coach
Rollinson. We also have Coach Hopkins and Coach Higgins as well. They
were great coaches, and they were also great men.
It has been said that football builds character. I disagree with
that. Football reveals character. Having been a player, that Heisman
Trophy was not mine. I didn't get any votes nor did I get invited to
the combine, but it was a great experience.
My greatest football memory is not winning a national championship
for the University of Notre Dame. It is a
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game that we won in high school that we were supposed to lose by 40
points and we won by 31--literally. I had a Coach Mike Murgo. He had
one eye distinctly bigger than the other. He talked like this. He said:
I ain't cross-eyed. I just got one eye bigger than the other, boys.
The reason why we beat a team that should have beaten us by 40 was
about belief. It was about belief.
Coach, what you have instilled in thousands of young men is belief.
People will say that you were a great coach. Again, I am going to
take a little umbrage with that. You are a great teacher, a teacher of
men.
Football is unique, as Congressman Gallagher said, because it is not
a contact sport. Basketball is a contact sport. Soccer is a contact
sport. Football is a collision sport, and it hurts. I had a couple of
concussions in Notre Dame--in practice, full disclosure.
You remind me of Coach Holtz. You are cut from the same cloth. On our
national championship rings it says: trust, love, commitment.
Football is unique because you have 11 men out on that field who have
to trust each other because a collision could come your way. You have
to trust. You have to love one another. I look up in the gallery and
see so many people. You are not from Virginia or Maryland, so you
couldn't drive here. So many people flew across this country to honor
you and to honor what you have built. It is not the 300-plus wins and
over a dozen championships State and national. It is the trust, love,
and the commitment that you had for your family, for your community,
and for those young men.
Mr. Speaker, we are in the presence of a Hall of Famer in greatness.
It was a wonderful day to see you operating with that team. What
impressed me so much about those young men was not, by the way, only
their height. I took a picture with the offensive lineman. I am 6 feet
tall and 230 pounds, and I look like a hobbit. My son said: Daddy, are
they going to have a second breakfast?
He was looking at my hairy feet.
Each one of those men when we went and the colonel shared some words
and the then-whip now-majority leader shared some words were so
impressive. They are the future of our country. That gives me solace.
What we are all here for and why we serve in this august Chamber is
we want to ensure that America's best days have yet to be counted. That
is what you have done for your entire life.
I always wonder--we are all going to have a tombstone one day--what
is it going to say on yours?
It is not going to say that you had a big house or she drove a fast
car or they had a pile of money. It is all about how we loved and whom
we loved.
You have made a tremendous impact. You are a great American. The best
compliment I can ever pay someone is that the world is a better place
because you are in it.
Thank you, Coach, and God bless you.
Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Pat for his words.
Yes, we have come a long way since the days when you played with
leather helmets without face masks.
There is little doubt that coaching a player who wins the Heisman
Trophy is a distinction that few can claim. Rollo has coached two.
The first was Matt Leinart, the 2001 graduate of Mater Dei whose
playing career at the University of Southern California earned him
college football's highest honor. I spoke with Matt ahead of this
tribute, and he asked me to include these words into the Record in
recognizing his former high school coach.
Matt Leinart:
As an athlete growing up, you have big dreams, and you can
be only so lucky to have people that can help you reach those
dreams. Coach Rollo had that impact in my life. He was not
only a coach, but a mentor and a father figure. He has had a
tremendous impact in my life in only ways that he knows.
This past year has been one of the best of my life because
I got to watch my 16-year-old son play for Mater Dei and play
for my coach.
As I watched Cole throw his first varsity touchdown pass,
he walked off and hugged Rollo on the sideline. It was a full
circle moment for me that I will always remember. Rollo is
family and one of the greatest men I know. Thank you for
teaching me the many life lessons that I have needed to grow
into the man I am today. Love you Coach.
Matt Leinart.
But there was a second Heisman Trophy winner who followed, and I
spoke of him earlier.
Ms. Kamlager-Dove is a colleague of mine in this bipartisan tribute
to Bruce Rollinson. Sydney Kamlager-Dove represents the 37th District
in California, and she has some special words for the coach and I
believe some comments from his second Heisman Trophy winner.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Kamlager-Dove).
Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise as a mother of a Loyola Cub, a formidable rival
to the Mater Dei Monarchs, but I have the courage enough to say that
Mater Dei is a world-class high school that prepares young men for the
highest echelons of sports, academic, and life achievement.
They own that accolade in part to the legendary coach, Bruce
Rollinson.
Coach Rollo, as he is affectionately known, has been as committed to
winning high school national championships as he has been to developing
these students into productive young men.
Some famous Monarchs heralding from this fine school including
USC's--my alma mater--Matt Leinart, Matt Barkley, and Todd Marinovich.
They are all success stories in different ways.
I do want to add that the JV football is looking pretty Division I
ready this year, and they are a daunting lineup for anyone who is
trying to oppose them.
This is, as was mentioned, the only high school to produce three
Heisman Trophy winners.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to share and have included in the Record a
quote from Heisman Trophy winner, powerhouse, and Pasadena-bred Bryce
Young, one of the best quarterbacks college football has seen in the
past decade. Yes, I said it.
Congratulations to Coach Rollo, who has had such a positive
impact in my life. From when I first entered his program, he
always believed in me and pushed me to be the best version of
myself on and off the field.
While he is retiring from coaching football, I know he will
always be there for the young men who had the privilege to
call Coach Rollo their coach.
I am honored to have played for him and now call him a
friend.
Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her remarks.
Bruce Rollinson is a 1967 graduate of Mater Dei. His team won the CIF
4-A championship in 1965 and played in the game of the decade against
Anaheim High School in Anaheim Stadium. He played defensive back and
wide receiver for John McKay at USC. He played in the 1970 Rose Bowl
when USC beat Michigan. Coach Rollo became the head coach in Mater Dei
in 1988 after 7 years as an assistant.
By the time it is all over, here are the numbers that qualify him for
legendary status and precisely the reason we are standing here today:
Overall record: 341 wins, 87 tough losses, and two draws.
Eight CIF championships, four State championships, five national
championships, and a parade of NCAA players, many of whom went on to
prosperous national football league careers.
Mr. Speaker, I have also asked one of my distinguished colleagues
from California across the aisle to join us in this tribute today. He
happens to be Rollo's own Congressman from the Santa Ana, California,
area.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa).
Mr. CORREA. Coach Rollinson, congratulations. You put not Santa Ana
but Santa Ana on the map.
Thank you very much. You have often said that you create the effort
and God controls the outcome. These are words to live by. Thank you
very much.
Last year, I had the opportunity when I was at home on a Friday
night--one of my favorite activities is to go and watch high school
football games. Santa Ana Bowl is about a mile away from my house.
This night you were there coaching Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco. It
was an epic game of course.
As I got there and looked around, I was on the sidelines--your side,
by the
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way, not Bosco's side--and next to me I saw the USC head coach and
Bama's head coach. There must have been every head coach in the top 20
schools in this country watching your game and watching your athletes
play football that night.
It was unbelievable.
At the end of the game we had a bunch of helicopters come by and take
these coaches away. It was an unbelievable night.
We are going to honor you today, an honor well-deserved. You are
Orange County's all-time leader, and the winningest coach.
You graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1967, and in 1966, you
played against Anaheim High School--my High School. I am a Colonist
too. You played against my coach, Clare Van Hoorebeke.
{time} 1215
This is our helmet, sir. Do you remember it?
I wore this helmet that night in 1966. It was the game of the decade.
Anaheim Stadium, a record number of people attending that night; almost
33,000 people in attendance that night in 1966.
Coach Rollinson, if I look at this poster here, we edged you out that
night. We won, 12-7. It is my understanding that you scored those 7
points. Of course, as you can see, the players at the bottom there, I
think that is probably you, one of those players is you.
Coach Van Hoorebeke preceded you in Anaheim, Orange County. I think
we all learned from him. If I think back to the days I played football
under Coach Van Hoorebeke, the one thing the coach taught me is when
you get hit, when you get knocked down, when you get bloodied, you get
up, and you keep going.
I still remember those days. Three-hour football practices. No water,
no rest. Heaven help you, if you made a mistake; you had to go run
laps, full uniform on, helmet on. That was the discipline we grew up
with in Orange County.
Coach Rollinson, I am telling you what you already know; we were a
community. We are a community in Orange County. I am honored to say
today that we are a family.
I often would drive down Bristol Street to take my kids to the local
elementary school, and I would watch your team practice, admiring you
and respecting you because, sir, you put us on the map again and again
and again.
You graduated from Mater Dei. You came back to teach in 1976 at Mater
Dei. That is the year I graduated from Anaheim High School. Like my
colleague Mr. Womack said, four national championships. With the
exception of maybe one or two universities, more Heisman trophies than
anybody else in the country.
I am not going to say good-bye, sir, but I will say that you will be
missed as a head coach, and I know and I do hope your successor will
carry on your tradition because we need to make sure we continue to
build champions in Santa Ana, California.
Let me conclude by saying that success of individuals like you, you
have got to have a team partner. Mrs. Rollinson, thank you for giving
him the strength to do what he does. I think at the end of the day, we
all married up, and we did well.
Like my colleagues have said, you are a great American. I would also
say you are a great member of our Orange County family. Thank you. God
bless. Go Colonists and go Mater Dei. Thank you very much, Coach
Rollinson.
Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, a number of friends, family, and colleagues
of Coach Rollinson wanted to offer their congratulations as part of
this tribute today. Time will not permit me to read all of those
comments, but I do want to read one because this comes from the
Rollinson family. This is from Caroline Flanagan and Catherine--who I
know as Cat--Pederson:
``We are so incredibly proud of our dad, Coach Rollinson, known to
his grandchildren as Coach or even occasionally, Coachie.
``Growing up, he made us a part of the Mater Dei football family, but
he also made sure that when he came home football was on the back
burner, and he was just our dad. He stayed up late to help us study for
tests, got up with us when we had an early-start class, and was present
in every way.
``When we were in college, a call from him was an instant mood boost,
and he knew how to fire us up for a test so that we walked in feeling
like we could either take an exam or play a football game.
``He is truly the best person we know. He lives his values day in and
day out. He makes us better people, and he has that rare gift of being
able to bring out the best in everyone who knows him. His faith and his
family are what drive him, and for the past 7 years we've gotten to see
him in possibly his greatest role--as a grandfather. Our kids get to
learn from the best and be loved by the best.
``Coach Rollinson has won numerous championships and accolades on the
football field, but we are most proud of him for who he is to our
family, and we can't wait to see what the next chapter brings. We love
you, Coach.''
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record of today's tribute the remaining
comments from family, friends, fellow coaches, and others.
Tribute to Coach Bruce Rollinson
John Hopkins
Rollo, from my initial hiring in 1989, ``get him a shirt''
to your last game in 2022, it has been my honor and privilege
to have coached with you. Your daily message of, ``you
control the effort and God controls the outcome'', has made
me a better coach, husband, father, grandfather, and
businessman. Competition is what has made this Country GREAT,
and competition amongst our players and Coaches is what you
have instilled in us, to be Great. We have been together for
34 years and 430 games, and while we have had some highs and
some lows, the highs have far outweighed the lows, and the
experience coaching with you is a memory I will cherish
forever! Love ya brother, and all the best . . . Coach Hops
Leo Boese
THANK YOU, on behalf of all your players over the last 34
years for the love, dedication and life lessons you have
taught them. THANK YOU, on the half of all the parents who
have experienced through their sons the many life lessons you
have taught them. THANK YOU, on behalf of all your coaches
over the years and your ability to teach them what an
outstanding husband, father, leader and mentor is. THANK YOU,
for teaching all of us discipline, toughness, dedication,
loyalty, hard work, accountability, perseverance, how to
handle adversity, and integrity in all we strive to do. THANK
YOU, constantly demonstrating to all of us the qualities of a
true Monarch, POISE--PRIDE--COURAGE. For all of those you
have touched and imprinted in our hearts and minds the
virtues of our three stripes! THANK YOU, always taking time
to listen to your players or their families in times of need.
THANK YOU, being a true and unwavering friend. You will never
be forgotten by those you have touched . . . Leo Boese
Geri Campeau
Bruce Rollinson has been a dedicated and inspiring teacher,
mentor and friend for over 35 years. His passion for
education and commitment to developing his players is truly
admirable. A true servant leader, Bruce challenges those he
works with to achieve their full potential through the values
of pride, poise and courage. I am honored to know him and
blessed to be his friend.
Rollinson Family--Caroline Flanagan and Catherine Pederson
We are so incredibly proud of our dad, Coach Rollinson,
known to his grandchildren as ``Coach'' or even occasionally,
``Coachie.'' Growing up he made us a part of the Mater Dei
football family, but he also made sure that when he came home
football was on the back burner and he was just our dad. He
stayed up late to help us study for tests, got up with us
when we had an early start class, and was present in every
way. When we were in college a call from him was an instant
mood boost, and he knew how to fire us up for a test so that
we walked in feeling like we could either take an exam or
play a football game! He is truly the best person we know. He
lives his values day in and day out. He makes us better
people, and he has that rare gift of being able to bring out
the best in everyone who knows him. His faith and his family
are what drive him, and for the past seven years we've gotten
to see him in possibly his greatest role--as a grandfather.
Our kids get to learn from the best, and be loved by the
best. Coach Rollinson has won numerous championships and
accolades on the football field, but we are most proud of him
for who he is to our family, and we can't wait to see what
the next chapter brings. We love you, Coach!
Michael Brennan--President, Mater Dei High School
Bruce Rollinson has been a dedicated Mater Dei High School
employee for 47 years and our Head Football Coach for the
last 34 years/seasons. While known for being a winning
football coach, he is equally known for being a eucharistic
minister during Mass. His love for God, Christ and Mary Mater
Dei is first and foremost who he is. This faithful
relationship allows him to express a deep commitment and
authentic care towards each and every football player. His
players understand that he loves and cares for them
[[Page H1434]]
and thus are willing to accept the grind of being a member of
the Mater Dei High School Football program. On behalf of the
entire community, and with Honor-Glory-Love, we humbly say,
`Thank You Coach!'
Patrick Murphy--Former President, Principal & Assistant Principal,
Mater Dei High School (1990-2020)
It was my tremendous honor and privilege to work alongside
Mater Dei High School Football Coach Bruce Rollinson for 30
years. Bruce enjoyed unprecedented success on the football
field but more importantly Coach Rollo positively touched and
influenced the lives of countless Monarchs off the field in
so many profound ways. Bruce Rollinson impacted thousands of
young men and women, in the classroom, on the athletic fields
and through his philanthropic outreach efforts for almost 5
decades at Mater Dei High School. Bruce's faith, passion,
enthusiasm and commitment to Catholic Education and to his
beloved alma mater are unmatched. The positive impact that
Coach Rollo had on growth and development of MDHS will be
felt for decades to come and I am blessed to have been able
to call Bruce Rollinson my friend for 3 decades. Bruce,
congratulations on an amazing and unparalleled career of
incredible success, influential impact and caring outreach as
an educator and coach. You truly are One of a Kind and Mater
Dei High School has been blessed with your presence for
almost 50 years. All my very best to you, Laurie, your
beautiful daughters and your wonderful grandchildren. Take
care and God Bless, my friend.
Kevin Turner
I will preface by noting I have had the honor to work as a
broadcaster in Southern California covering high school,
college and professional sports for 30 years. What I have
always found remarkable about the coach was his God-given
ability to communicate and teach not just football but what
it takes to champion life skills that extend well beyond the
gridiron. The coach always talks about his former players,
not the ones that are NFL stars, Heisman trophy winners, or
olympians, but the young men and women who run companies,
fighting fires, practicing law, policing our streets or
serving our country. The everyday heroes is what coach wanted
the most for his players and support staff. Coach mastered
and executed his plan everyday and did it with passion. He
provided a platform and a place in what I believe is what
this country needs more than anything--an opportunity, that's
it. He had a famous saying you provide the effort God will
provide the outcome. Simple formula, all through structure
and discipline using tough love, faith-based principles and a
belief that through hard work and dedication dreams can come
true. God bless America and Bruce Rollinson.
Tim Strader, Jr.
Coach Bruce Rollinson is way more than just a football
coach. From teaching me U.S. History 40 years ago to coaching
both of my sons at Mater Dei, Bruce has had a positive impact
on multiple generations in Southern California. While his
accomplishments on the field speak for itself, it is his way
of turning raw young athletes into respectful, faith-filled
young men that has set him apart. I congratulate him on an
incredible career and his recognition by the United States
House of Representatives is well deserved. Sincerely, Tim
Strader, Jr.
Josh Higgins
It's been a great privilege to both play for Coach
Rollinson then get to stand by his side as a coach for so
many years. The effect he has had on me is one that is shared
by hundreds of his former players over the past 34 years as
Mater Dei's Head Coach.
Coach Rollinson is foremost a wonderful husband, father,
and grandfather. He has led by example, especially when it
comes to family. His players proudly bring their families
back year after year to visit him and introduce their young
families to the man who help build them into who they have
become.
A true leader and builder of men, one of the very few men I
have known who could both yell and challenge you without you
ever thinking he didn't absolutely care and love you. His
tremendous ability to command and lead was by continually
demanding high expectations while knowing he put you in a
position to succeed.
Coach Rollinson always preached to parents to never make
excuses for their boys and for his players to always respect
their parents.
He taught us to honor our country and the men and women in
the military who keep us safe.
The legacy Coach Rollinson has achieved will endure for
generations. His fingerprints will remain on Mater Dei High
School in addition to the thousands of souls he has taught,
led, and guided to be successful people throughout life.
Mr. WOMACK. In October, Coach Bruce Rollinson coached his last game
after 34 years of distinguished service. The sport has said good-bye to
a legend.
Today, here on the floor of the people's House, you have heard of the
remarkable accomplishments of this dedicated coaching professional.
I want the country to know what the hundreds of young men who have
worn the Mater Dei Monarch colors already know, that Rollo is not just
a coach, he is a great man.
From all of us, for my colleagues who have spoken here today, for
sports fans across America who love and appreciate excellence in
coaching, we offer our congratulations to Bruce Rollinson from his
players, his coaches, his friends, and his family.
Enjoy a well-earned retirement. Go, Monarchs.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________