[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 9, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF LARRY ``GATOR'' RIVERS

  (Mr. CARTER of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of 
Larry ``Gator'' Rivers, a great man, fantastic athlete, and public 
servant.
  Gator was born on May 6, 1949, in Savannah, Georgia. During his 
sophomore year at Alfred Beach High School, Gator was part of the 
first-ever all-African-American team to win the Georgia high school 
basketball State championship.
  The team went on to win two more State titles, bringing Gator's total 
to three State titles. After his dominating high school career at 
Alfred Beach High School, Larry went on to play at Mobley Junior 
College and Missouri Western State University.
  After college, he tried out and impressed the scouts for the Harlem 
Globetrotters. For 15 years, Gator toured with the Globetrotters as a 
dribbler for the team.
  After his career with the Globetrotters, Larry went on to coach at 
the high school level and created his own training program, Gatorball 
Academy.
  In 2008, Gator moved back to Savannah and continued to run Gatorball 
Academy in conjunction with volunteering at the Frank Callen Boys and 
Girls Club.
  In 2020, he decided to run for a seat on the Chatham County 
Commission. He was well known for trying to bring more professional 
sports to Savannah.
  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the Rivers family.
  To my friend, we will miss you. You will always be with us.

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