[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22114]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RICHMOND'S LITTLE CHAMPIONS

  (Mr. DeLAY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I want to take a moment to 
recognize the members of the 2003 Lamar Little League all-stars from 
Richmond, Texas, for their sterling performance in the Little League 
World Series.
  First of all, I want to commend Jim Michalek, the team's dedicated 
manager for his magnificent leadership.
  Mr. Michalek and his coaches, Tim Hollek and Tom Staudt, devoted an 
enormous amount of time and effort to these young men. They made this 
team their lives for the summer of 2003, and the team's success is a 
testament to their dedication.
  As for the boys themselves, Brian Foster, Randal Alexander Grichuk, 
Brandon Hollek, Marcus Martinez, Jimmy Michalek, Robert Psenka, Cody 
Robinson, Brady Rogers, Eli Sepulveda, Chris Smith, Garrett Austin 
Staudt, and Wayne Willis, they did Richmond and Fort Bend County proud 
this year and gave us a series to remember.
  After that heroic battle with the kids from Saugus, Massachusetts, it 
will be a long while before the rest of the Nation forgets what the 
Richmond all-stars are made of.
  I am honored to represent these young men and their families. Their 
determination and dedication is an inspiration, an example to Texans of 
all ages.
  Over the course of this spring and summer, the Richmond all-stars 
have refined their characters along with their batting swings. They 
have learned the virtues of teamwork, virtues that will make them 
better boys, and one day, better men.
  Competing in team sports teaches children the virtues of honesty, 
perseverance, loyalty, and courage; and doing so in the name of their 
hometown instills in them a sense of civic pride as well.
  More than that, they have helped instill that very pride in all of 
us, their fans, who watched and cheered their amazing march to 
Williamsport.
  No matter what the scoreboard said at the end of the game, the 
Richmond, Texas, Little Leaguers of 2003 will always be our champions.

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