[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8549]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING MR. ANTWAN DEON ODOM ON THE OCCASION OF HIS BEING HONORED ON 
             ``ANTWAN ODOM DAY'' IN BAYOU LA BATRE, ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 2005

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. Antwan Deon Odom 
of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, on the occasion of his being honored by his 
community on ``Antwan Odom Day.''
  Antwan was born on September 24, 1981, in Mobile, Alabama. During his 
early years, he worked in Bayou La Batre's seafood industry and during 
high school worked part-time after class unloading both shrimp boats 
and crab trucks. Early in life, he became an active football player and 
played in the Zirlott Park youth football league and, later, at Alba 
Middle and Alba High schools. Following the merger of Alma and Bryant 
High schools, Antwan played on the new school's varsity team. His 
talent and accomplishments on the field drew national attention, and he 
was named by Parade Magazine to their All-American Team and was also 
honored as both the Class 6A ``Lineman of the Year'' and the Super Prep 
Player of the Year. Antwan graduated from Alma-Bryant High School in 
2000 and received a full football scholarship to the University of 
Alabama.
  Antwan's outstanding success on the Crimson Tide football team earned 
him further accolades throughout Alabama and across the country. 
Following his freshman year, he was named an honorable mention Freshman 
All-American by Rivals.com. By the end of his collegiate career, Antwan 
ranked fifth on the university's all time sack leader list with 21 and 
had registered 98 tackles, 40 quarterback pressures, four forced 
fumbles, one fumble recovery, five pass deflections, and two blocked 
kicks. Rather than finish his senior year at Alabama, he opted to 
declare his eligibility for the 2004 National Football League draft. In 
the second round of the draft, Antwan was made the 57th pick by the 
Tennessee Titans.
  Mr. Speaker, Antwan Odom is certainly very deserving of being honored 
with his own hometown celebration. Although he is a youngman who has 
progressed quite far in just a few short years and who has developed 
into one of the leading stars in professional football today, he has 
not forgotten his roots. To this day, he continues to split time 
between his hometown and his new home in Tennessee, and the fame he has 
achieved has done little to diminish his love for his family, his 
community, and his state. I ask my colleagues to join with me in 
congratulating Antwan Odom for both the great success he has enjoyed in 
his life and his outstanding representation of the First District of 
Alabama. I know his family--his wife Brooke, and his sons, Antwan, Jr., 
and Baylor--and many friends are also proud of him, and I wish his 
entire family much health and success in the time ahead.

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