[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17354]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF PAUL WINCHELL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2005

  Mr. NADLER, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
accomplishments of Paul Winchell, who passed away on Friday, June 24th.
  Paul was born in Manhattan's Lower East Side on December 21, 1922. He 
studied ventriloquism from an early age, overcoming speech impediments 
and a difficult family life. He would go on to become one of the great 
pioneers of early television, bringing a smile to every household with 
his ventriloquism act on the Paul Winchell-Jerry Mahoney show in the 
1950's.
  To younger generations, Paul was best known as the voice of Tigger, 
the loveable tiger from Walt Disney's adaptation of ``Winnie the 
Pooh.'' He also played numerous roles on children's programs such as 
the Jetsons, the Smurfs, the Brady Bunch, and the Beverly Hillbillies. 
But Paul was much more than an entertainer--he was also an innovative 
thinker and inventor with thirty patents.
  In 1959, Paul decided to return to school and attended Columbia 
University. Later, he pursued graduate work in acupuncture and 
hypnosis. His education led to projects for the American Red Cross and 
the Leukemia Society. In 1963 he joined forces with Doctor Henry 
Heimlich, and together they developed and patented the first early 
artificial heart. Rather than use his invention for profit, he donated 
the heart to the University of Utah, where it served as the prototype 
for Dr. Robert Jarvik's first successful artificial heart implant in 
1982.
  Paul Winchell lived a life of unparalleled diversity. Whether making 
children smile or improving lives through innovation, he dedicated his 
talents to the betterment of his surroundings, and I request that we 
honor him for a life well lived.

                          ____________________