[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26394]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 26394]]

                          EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

                   IN HONOR OF LOU ``THE TOE'' GROZA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Lou ``the Toe'' Groza for 
his years of involvement in the Cleveland area.
  Mr. Groza was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio and remained in state 
attending Ohio State University in 1942. Just one year into his college 
education, Mr. Groza was drafted by the U.S. Army for service in World 
War II. In the Army he served as a surgical technician in a medical 
battalion.
  In 1946, after his service had ended, Lou Groza returned home to Ohio 
and promptly tried out for the Cleveland Browns. Just one year after 
joining the team, Groza was promoted to starting tackle and helped 
guide the Browns to a perfect (14-0) season and the All-America 
Football Conference title.
  During his extraordinary twenty-one year career, Mr. Groza helped 
steer the Cleveland Browns to eight championships and led them into 
another five championship games. In addition to the team glory that Mr. 
Groza promoted, he also earned individual honors being named to six 
All-National Football League (NFL) teams, nine Pro Bowl squads and left 
the league as the all time points and games played leader with 1,349 
and 216 respectively. In fact, so impressive was his kicking ability 
that he still ranks in the top fifteen points leaders in NFL history.
  In 1968 the Cleveland Browns showed their respects towards the 
incredible talents of Mr. Groza by retiring his number (76) in a 
ceremony at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The National Football League 
also paid homage to Mr. Groza by inducting him into their Hall of Fame 
in 1974.
  With his football career over, Mr. Groza did not disappear from 
public life, instead he remained a fixture in the Berea, Ohio community 
for more than three decades. The city recognized him by renaming the 
street of the Cleveland Browns training camp ``Lou Groza Way'' and 
assigning the Browns' headquarters the street address 76.
  Lou Groza was a patriot, football legend and a city treasure. He will 
be missed by the entire Northeast Ohio Community. My fellow colleagues, 
let us recognize Mr. Groza for his years of achievement.

                          ____________________