[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 22785-22786] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING JOHN JORDON ``BUCK'' O'NEIL ON HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY ______ HON. KAREN McCARTHY of missouri in the house of representatives Thursday, November 15, 2001 Mr. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man some call ``Mr. Kansas City'', Mr. John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil. ``Buck'' is a man who has come to embody the ideals we share as a nation. As he celebrates his 90th birthday on November 13, 2001, I am proud and honored to celebrate the lifetime of achievement of our hometown hero. John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil was born November 13, 1911 in Carrabelle, Florida. He developed a love of baseball at an early age and his father nicknamed him ``Buck'' after the co-owner of the Miami Giants, Buck O'Neal. Though a segregated America denied Buck the opportunity to grace the diamonds of the Major Leagues as a player, he was able to showcase his unmatched talent with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. He joined the Monarchs in 1938, and played for them until 1943, at which time he went to serve his country in World War II. Recognizing his patriotic responsibility to our country, he entered the United States Navy and was stationed in the Philippines from 1943 until his discharge in 1946. Buck was named player/manager for the Monarchs in 1948 and continued his association with the team through the end of the 1955 season. As a player, Buck had a career batting average of .288, including four .300-plus seasons at the plate, and led the Kansas City Monarchs to victory in the 1942 Negro World Series. After 12 years as a player, Buck changed hats and managed the Monarchs to four more league titles in six years. Following his career with the Kansas City Monarchs, Buck joined the major leagues as a scout for the Chicago Cubs. In 1962 the Chicago Cubs made him the first African American to coach in the Majors. Buck is credited with signing Hall of Fame baseball greats Ernie Banks and Lou Brock to their first professional contracts, and is acknowledged to have sent more Negro League athletes to the all white major leagues than any other man in baseball history. Today he serves as the Board Chairman for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, and spends his time promoting the achievements of African American baseball players who played for the love of the game, despite the color barriers at that time that kept them out of the Majors. He is also actively involved in utilizing the Museum to assist in the education of youth in the community through programs such as ``Reading Around the Bases'' where elementary school students learn from community readers about the pioneers of the Negro Leagues. I was honored to be asked to read from ``second base'' to a group of students as part of celebrating Buck's 88th birthday party. Our ``Hometown Hero'' is very active in various charitable causes within the community. He lends his name and energy to sponsor the Buck O'Neil Golf Classic, a fundraiser for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In the past three years, the event has [[Page 22786]] raised nearly $350,000 for the organizations. For the past six years, the Kansas City Securities Association, Inc. Educational Endowment Fund has given four-year scholarships to graduating high school students in honor of Negro Leagues players, one in honor of Buck O'Neil. He participates in the Negro Leagues Museum's ``Night of the Harvest Moon'' program on Halloween night. It provides area children a safe alternative from the traditional to door to door trick or treating. More than 14,000 children have participated in the event over the past four years. Buck has risen to national prominence with his moving narration of the Negro Leagues as part of Ken Burns' PBS baseball documentary. Since then he has been the source of countless national interviews including appearances on ``Late Night with David Letterman,'' and ``Late, Late Show with Tom Snyder.'' Last week he gave an interview to Jim Rome, who has a nationally syndicated sports radio program. Mr. Rome said he could have talked to Buck for the entire three hour show because Buck had such rich experiences to share about various baseball players, and baseball in general. He ended his comments by saying that Buck was one of the most interesting interviews he had ever had on his show. Mr. Speaker, our hero finds ways to assist deserving organizations even in celebrating his birthday. While talking about baseball, Buck mentioned that his ``birthday present'' would be to raise ninety thousand dollars for the programs of the Negro Leagues. Starting almost immediately after his interview ended, the staff of the Negro Leagues Museum was inundated with calls and e-mails for nearly four hours. On his 90th birthday, the City of Kansas City, Missouri named a street in his honor one block north of 18th and Vine, the area which houses the Negro Leagues Museum as well as the Jazz Hall of Fame. The street's new name is John ``Buck'' O'Neil Way. In honor of his 90th birthday on November 13, I requested a flag be flown from my Capitol office window. This was presented to him at a dinner ceremony in Kansas City, Missouri on November 14. At this ceremony he was recognized for his heroic and patriotic accomplishments by the President of the United States, the House and Senate, and local and state officials. I look forward to the day in the near future when the Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee recognizes our hometown hero for his accomplishments on and off the baseball field and approve his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In addition to his work in Cooperstown and at the museum in Kansas City, Buck is finding new and exciting ways to enjoy life and spread his infectious charm and warm spirit. He is a local hero whose recognition for service is recognized at home and nationally. He was given the Trumpet Award in 1999 by the Turner Broadcasting System saluting him for achievements to African Americans. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International conferred on Buck its ``Paul Harris Fellow'' in appreciation of ``. . . furthering better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.'' Kansas State University bestowed upon him the ``Lifetime Leadership Award'' in ``recognition for leadership, community involvement, commitment to diversity, and life long record of contribution to the public.'' Buck has received numerous awards in recognition of his work in the community and assistance to various organizations. Some of these awards are: recognition by the United States Army for ``outstanding support of Army recruiting in Kansas City;'' the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce honored him with its ``Centurion Leadership Award;'' he was accorded the ``Distinguished Service Award'' by the State Historical Society of Missouri; and on November 10, 2001 Buck was given the ``Ewing Kauffman Outstanding Achievement Award'' from the Jewish Community Center. As an award winning baseball player, esteemed baseball manager and scout, decorated veteran, and humanitarian, Buck exemplifies excellence in public service and his career serves as a beacon for generations to come. He symbolizes the spirit of American patriotism and is a role model for us all. Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil. It is an honor and a privilege to join in the 90th birthday celebration of an American hero, a national treasure, a symbol of African American pride, and one of Kansas City's favorite sons. Buck's favorite song is ``The Greatest Thing in All My Life, is Loving You.'' Buck, I love you, salute you and your heroic accomplishments, and am delighted and privileged to know such a patriot and to call you my friend, Thank you, Buck. ____________________