[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 43 (Monday, March 9, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                         REMEMBERING BOB HARLAN

  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to the life 
and legacy of Bob Harlan, the longtime president and chief executive 
officer of the Green Bay Packers, whose leadership left an indelible 
mark on one of America's most historic sports franchises and on Packers 
fans across Wisconsin and the Nation.
  Mr. Harlan passed away on March 5 at the age of 89, leaving behind a 
legacy that extends beyond the gridiron. During his illustrious tenure 
with the Packers, which spanned nearly four decades--including nearly 
two decades as president and CEO--Mr. Harlan was instrumental in 
guiding the organization through one of the greatest turnarounds in the 
history of professional sports and cementing the long-term stability of 
one of the NFL's most unique community-owned football organizations in 
the country.
  When Mr. Harlan joined the Packers organization in 1989, the 
organization was facing significant competitive and financial 
challenges. Mr. Harlan's decision to bring Ron Wolf into the 
organization as the general manager marked the beginning of the 
Packers' turnaround, which saw the organization bring in the likes of 
Brett Favre and other Hall of Famers to Green Bay, culminating in the 
organization's first championship in nearly three decades in Super Bowl 
XXXI.
  However, Mr. Harlan's vision for the Green Bay Packers football 
organization went far beyond the realm of merely winning games. He 
recognized that for the Packers and for the small town of Green Bay to 
thrive in the highly competitive realm of professional sports in the 
21st century, they had to lay the groundwork for the long-term 
stability of the organization for generations to come. Mr. Harlan was 
instrumental in guiding the $295 million renovation of Lambeau Field, 
which restored the historic stadium as one of the finest in the 
country.
  Equally important is the fact that Mr. Harlan bolstered the unique 
concept of community ownership that is the hallmark of the Green Bay 
Packers with his efforts, which included the team's stock sale and the 
team's investment in facilities such as the Don Hutson Center. This is 
definitive proof that a small-market team, owned by its fans, could not 
only survive but thrive in the NFL. The Packers are more than a 
football team to the people of Wisconsin; they are a tradition that 
brings people together. This tradition is not limited to the people of 
Green Bay; it is felt throughout the State of Wisconsin. Mr. Harlan 
knew this, and it was his steady leadership that protected an 
institution that belongs to the people of the State of Wisconsin.
  In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the team, Mr. 
Harlan was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin 
Athletic Hall of Fame. These honors are a testament to his outstanding 
contributions to the world of sports. Today, the Green Bay community 
remembers Mr. Harlan not only as an outstanding individual in the world 
of sports, but also as the individual responsible for protecting an 
American tradition that will continue to thrive through the Green Bay 
Packers.
  On behalf of the people of Wisconsin and Packers fans everywhere, I 
extend my deepest condolences to Bob Harlan's wife Madeline, his 
family, and the entire Packers organization. His legacy will live on in 
the gameday roar of Lambeau Field and in the enduring spirit of the 
Green Bay Packers.

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