[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 23878]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    CLAUDE BUDDY YOUNG SHOULD BE INDUCTED INTO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage the Pro Football 
Hall of Fame to induct an extraordinary athlete called Buddy Young, a 
Chicago hero and graduate of the Wendell Phillips High School in my 
district.
  As Chicago Sun Times columnist Steve Neal recently observed, Buddy 
Young was among the greatest NFL running backs of the modern era.
  From 1944 to 1946, Buddy Young was an All American halfback for the 
University of Illinois' fighting Illini. In his first season as a 
college football player, Young was runner up for the coveted Heisman 
Trophy. As one of the most electrifying players on the team, he tied 
renowned football legend Red Grange's college record for touchdowns.
  In 1947, Young led the NCAA college all star football team in an 
astounding upset victory over defending pro football champions, the 
Chicago Bears. Due to his outstanding performance during the game, 
Buddy Young was selected as the game's MVP.
  Following his college football career, Buddy showcased his athletic 
talents on a number of pro football teams. He is best remembered as a 
standout offensive threat for the Baltimore Colts where he set a 
kickoff record that is still standing today.
  Also, Young's 27.7 per yard kickoff return average is currently 
ranked fourth in all-time pro football record books. In fact, Mr. 
Speaker, Young's record and play as a Colt was so superior that the 
franchise retired his number, an accolade afforded to only eight other 
Colt football players.
  Furthermore, it is worth noting that, of the nine Baltimore Colt 
football players to have had their numbers retired, Buddy Young is the 
sole player who has not been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of 
Fame.
  Although well known for his great football accomplishment, Buddy 
Young has excelled in other aspects of his life. As the director of 
player relations of the National Football League, Young was the first 
African American to become an executive in any major sports league.
  Additionally, while in college, Young won the NCAA Division I track 
and field championship in the 100 yard dash, the 220 yard dash, and he 
set a world record in the 60-yard dash.
  Already, Mr. Speaker, Buddy Young's athletic achievements have earned 
him induction into the College Football, Chicagoland, and the Rose Bowl 
Halls of Fame.
  It is now both fitting and warranted for the Pro Football Hall of 
Fame to induct this athlete of athletes into its cherished halls.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I again encourage the Pro Football Hall of 
Fame selection committee to induct Claude Buddy Young into its 
prestigious and historical group of athletic legends. Only then will 
Young's place in athletic history be rightfully immortalized alongside 
other legends of the great game of football.

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