[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2952]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         SENATE RESOLUTION 467--HONORING THE LIFE OF MYRON COPE

  Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. Specter) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 467

       Whereas Myron Cope was a legendary Pittsburgher and voice 
     of the Pittsburgh Steelers for an unprecedented 35 seasons 
     from 1970 to 2005;
       Whereas Myron Cope died the morning of February 27th, 2008, 
     at the age of 79;
       Whereas it is the intent of the Senate to recognize and pay 
     tribute to the life of Myron Cope, his service to his 
     community, and his legacy with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 
     game of football, and the city of Pittsburgh;
       Whereas Myron Cope is best known for his quirky catch 
     phrases and for creating the ``terrible towel'', which is 
     twirled at Steelers games as a good luck charm and has since 
     developed into an international symbol of Pittsburgh Steelers 
     pride;
       Whereas Myron Cope coined the phrase ``Immaculate 
     Reception'', which became a household term to describe the 
     game-winning play in the Steelers' 1972 American Football 
     Conference Divisional playoff victory against the Oakland 
     Raiders, one of the most notable plays in all of National 
     Football League and sports history;
       Whereas Myron Cope spent the first half of his professional 
     career as one of the Nation's most widely read freelance 
     sports writers, writing for Sports Illustrated and the 
     Saturday Evening Post;
       Whereas Myron Cope became the first professional football 
     broadcaster to be elected to the National Radio Hall of Fame 
     in 2005;
       Whereas Myron Cope became so popular that the Steelers did 
     not try to replace him when he retired in 2005, instead 
     downsizing from a 3-man announcing team to 2;
       Whereas Myron Cope served his community on the board of 
     directors of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Autism Society of 
     America and the highly successful Pittsburgh Vintage Grand 
     Prix charity auto races, of which he was a co-founder;
       Whereas Myron Cope also served on the Tournament Committee 
     of the Myron Cope/Foge Fazio Golf Tournament for Autistic 
     Children;
       Whereas, in 1996, Myron Cope contributed his ownership of 
     ``The Terrible Towel'' trademarks to Allegheny Valley School, 
     an institution for the profoundly mentally and physically 
     disabled;
       Whereas Myron Cope was born in Pittsburgh on January 23, 
     1929, and lived all but a few months of his life in 
     Pittsburgh; and
       Whereas the passing of Myron Cope is a great loss to the 
     city of Pittsburgh and the game of football, and his life 
     should be honored with highest praise and respect for his 
     heart of black and gold: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes Myron Cope as a familiar voice to every 
     Pittsburgher and football fan alike, and his beloved persona 
     which will live on in the hearts of Pittsburghers and 
     Steelers fans for generations to come; and
       (2) recognizes the outstanding contributions of Myron Cope 
     to the city of Pittsburgh, the game of football, and the 
     Pittsburgh Steelers.

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