[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4808]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                 CONGRATULATING THE POPLAR BLUFF MULES

 Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I want to recognize today the 
distinguished accomplishments of the Mules, the Poplar Bluff High 
School Boys Basketball Team of Poplar Bluff, MO, and congratulate them 
on winning the 2005 Missouri Class 5 State Championship for Boys 
Basketball.
  The team had a truly remarkable season, and their accomplishment was 
hard fought and well deserved.
  Working as a team, these talented young men pulled together to defeat 
the previously unbeaten No. 1 ranked team in the Nation.
  The Mules finished with a record of 27 wins and only 4 losses, with 2 
of those losses against teams that were, at the time, ranked in the top 
10 in the Nation. The State title win was the second consecutive 
Missouri Class 5 Boys Basketball Championship for the Poplar Bluff 
Mules.
  Anchored by an aggressive defense and a balanced offense, the Mules 
turned back many deserving opponents in their march to the 
championship.
  I also congratulate their coach, John David Pattillo, and the 
excellent leadership he has provided. With a staff of dedicated 
assistant coaches and a great deal of support from students and 
parents, he created a program for which all of us can be proud.
  I congratulate the students and coaches of Poplar Bluff High School 
on their exceptional championship season.

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