[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 212 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H5907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING TERRY HANRATTY
(Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a
Butler, Pennsylvania, native and former University of Notre Dame
quarterback, a guy that I grew up with and went to grade school, high
school, and college with.
Terry Hanratty set this standard as a precision quarterback in the
1960s, helping to usher in an era of high-powered passing under Hall of
Fame Coach Ara Parseghian, cementing his legacy as one of Notre Dame's
all-time greats.
The Butler, Pennsylvania, native now becomes the 50th Fighting Irish
player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.
A consensus First Team All-American in 1968, Terry led Notre Dame to
a 24-4-2 record during his 3 years under center at South Bend,
including a share of the national title in 1966. The Irish finished the
1966 season 9-0-1, tying Michigan State in what has been called the
Game of the Century.
The Irish won 83.3 percent of their games with Terry as the starting
signal caller, and the Irish boasted a final ranking of number 5 or
better during all 3 years of his tenure. Terry finished third in the
Heisman Trophy voting in 1968, ninth in 1967, and sixth in 1966.
Paired with wide receiver Jim Seymour as part of the duo dubbed
``Fling and Cling,'' Hanratty set career records for pass completions,
304; passing yards, 4,152; and touchdown passes, 27, during his time in
South Bend. He added 16 touchdowns and 586 yards on the ground. His 63
passing attempts against Purdue in 1967 still rank second in our
school's annals. His 159.7 passing yards per game land him number 9 in
school records. His pass attempts per game in a season, 28.1, and pass
completions per game, 16.6, stood as school standards for more than 25
years.
In addition to Coach Parseghian, Terry will now join teammates Jim
Lynch, Alan Page, and Joe Theismann as members of the College Football
Hall of Fame.
Terry is also active in the community. He served as Allegheny County
chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, and he participated in
the Jerry Lewis Telethon to support muscular dystrophy, as well as NFL
events to raise funds for children with cancer.
Terry Hanratty spent his entire life helping other people. More than
being a tremendous athlete, I think it is more important that he was a
tremendous person. He is a guy people looked up to. Young people have
to have someone to look up to. Terry Hanratty is certainly one of those
people.
Recognizing Vern Law
Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a Pittsburgh
Pirates legend, Mr. Vern Law, who was inducted into the Pittsburgh
Pirates Hall of Fame this summer. I had the chance to join Mr. Law for
this momentous ceremony in Pittsburgh.
Mr. Law was a key member of the Pirates 1960 World Series
championship team, and he spent all 16 seasons of his Major League
career in Pittsburgh. He was also a two-time All-Star and a Cy Young
Award winner.
Off the field, faith was incredibly important to Mr. Law. He became a
deacon in the Church of Latter-day Saints, a title he first earned at
the age of 12 years old. He later became a teacher and was then
ordained as a priest at age 17.
For 73 years, Mr. Law was married to his wife, VaNita, who passed
away in 2023.
At age 95, Vern Law's legacy on and off the baseball field is etched
in western Pennsylvania history forever.
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