[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17989]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         HONORING DR. JOE VIGIL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 13, 2000

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege and an honor to have this 
opportunity to pay tribute to one of Alamosa's most well-loved and 
admired coaches, Dr. Joe Vigil, as he prepares to leave Adams State 
College after a decorated and distinguished 29-year career. Joe has 
been the embodiment of service and success during his time at Adams 
State and clearly deserves the praise and recognition of this body as 
he, his runners and the town of Alamosa, Colorado celebrate his ground-
breaking career.
  If ever there were a person who embodied the spirit and values that 
motivate others to achieve success, it is Joe. He has distinguished 
himself through his exceptional leadership and service that have placed 
him amongst the elite running coaches in the country. He was voted No. 
3 on the list of Colorado's top collegiate coaches in the past 100 
years and received the honor of NCAA and NAIA Coach Of The Year 14 
times. He has also served the United States as an international coach 
on 17 different occasions, including several Olympic Games. Most 
notably, Joe coached his teams to 18 national championships, accounting 
for more than 350 All-Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, Joe's commitment to his community has been so great that 
it led the Alamosa City Council to proclaim August 12, 2000, Joe I. 
Vigil day. Their proclamation reads:
  ``Whereas Dr. Joe I. Vigil has led Adams State College teams to 
athletic excellence over the years, whereas he has successfully coached 
numerous Olympic and champion athletes, whereas he is an inspiration 
for recreational runners and a role model for all, whereas he 
represents Alamosa nationally and internationally as an athletic 
ambassador, now therefore, I, Charles J. Griego, Mayor Pro Tem of 
Alamosa, Colorado, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby 
proclaim August 12, 2000, as Dr. Joe I. Vigil Day in the City of 
Alamosa, Colorado.''
  As Joe celebrates leaving Adams State College and Alamosa, Mr. 
Speaker, I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you and 
congratulations on behalf of the United States Congress. In every 
sense, Joe is a great coach who deserves praise and admiration from all 
of us. I wish him the best of luck as he continues to pursue his 
coaching career in Green Valley, Arizona. Joe is one of the nation's 
best and someone we can all be proud of.
  My thanks to him for a job well done.

                          ____________________