[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5639]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


        CONGRATULATIONS TO BEN LEBER OF VERMILLION, SOUTH DAKOTA

 Mr. JOHNSON. Madam President, I rise today to congratulate Ben 
Leber of the Kansas State University Wildcats. Ben, a Vermillion, South 
Dakota native, was chosen in the third round of the National Football 
League's 2002 Draft by the San Diego Chargers, and was the 71st overall 
draft pick.
  At Vermillion High School, Ben excelled both in the classroom and on 
the football field. Ben played offense, as a running back, and defense, 
as a linebacker. He was a two-time All-State and All-Conference 
selection and played in the North-South Dakota All-Star game. He was 
also named to the Academic All-State team and was an honor roll student 
every year in high school. In 1997, his senior year, he was a Parade 
All-American, the only player from South Dakota to receive the honor 
that year, and received an honorable mention to the All-USA team by USA 
Today. At VHS, Ben also participated in Track and Basketball.
  At KSU, where Ben is a Business-General Management major, he started 
35 of his last 37 games as an outside linebacker, continuing the 
school's excellent linebacker tradition. His junior year, Ben was an 
All-Big Twelve Conference second-team pick. His senior year, he was an 
All-American third-team selection by the Associated Press and a 
Consensus All-Big Twelve Conference first-team choice. Ben was also 
named to the Butkus and Lombardi Award watch lists and was invited to 
participate in the prestigious Senior Bowl. Ben was a team 
representative and defensive captain both his junior and senior years. 
Over the course of his career at KSU, Ben had 216 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 
11 passes broken, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
  I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Leber 
family, who have played no small role in Ben's success: his parents Al 
and Han, his brothers Jason and Aaron, and his sister Gina. I also want 
to congratulate VHS head football coach Gary Culver, who guided Ben and 
the Tanagers to the South Dakota 11A State Championship in 1995.
  Ben reflects the best of South Dakota, and I know I speak for the 
entire state when I congratulate him on being drafted. We are all very 
proud of him.

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