[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17610-17612]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1440
                        COMMENDING BOB SHEPPARD

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1529) commending Bob Sheppard for his long and 
respected career as the public-address announcer for the New York 
Yankees and the New York Giants.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1529

       Whereas Bob Sheppard served as the public-address announcer 
     for the New York Yankees from opening day in 1951 through 
     2007;
       Whereas Bob Sheppard served as the public-address announcer 
     for the New York Giants from 1956 through 2005;
       Whereas Bob Sheppard announced at 62 World Series games, 2 
     All-Star Games, and introduced more than 72 Hall of Famers 
     throughout his career, with his often-heard, booming voice 
     eventually earning him the nickname ``The Voice of God'';
       Whereas Bob Sheppard utilized his great oratory skills not 
     only in the sports arena, but as the chairman of the speech 
     department at John Adams High School in Queens, New York, and 
     as an adjunct professor of speech at St. John's University;
       Whereas Bob Sheppard was honored for his 50 memorable years 
     of service as the announcer at Yankee Stadium with ``Bob 
     Sheppard Day'', celebrated on May 7, 2000, and with a 
     permanent plaque in Monument Park behind Yankee Stadium in 
     the Bronx;

[[Page 17611]]

       Whereas Bob Sheppard's clear, distinctive voice has set the 
     standard of sports announcing, and has become ingrained in 
     the fans and players as a widely recognized and revered 
     Yankees tradition;
       Whereas Bob Sheppard's voice will continue to live on as 
     the recorded introduction of Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter;
       Whereas Bob Sheppard lived for 70 years in Baldwin, New 
     York, and spent 4 years playing in semi-professional football 
     leagues on Long Island, including the Valley Stream Red 
     Raiders and the Hempstead Monitors; and
       Whereas Bob Sheppard died on July 11, 2010, at his home in 
     Baldwin, New York, at age 99: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the legacy of Bob Sheppard and his 
     distinctive announcements as a revered tradition not only to 
     the New York Yankees and the New York Giants, but also to the 
     games of baseball and football and the field of sports 
     announcing; and
       (2) commends Bob Sheppard for his 52 years of service as a 
     public-address announcer and his long tenure as a speech 
     professor.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Bilbray) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I now yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I am proud to present H. Res. 1529 for 
consideration. This legislation commends Bob Sheppard for his long and 
respected career as the public-address announcer for the New York 
Yankees and the New York Giants. Introduced by my friend and colleague, 
Representative Carolyn McCarthy of New York, on July 15, 2010, H. Res. 
1529 was favorably reported out of the Oversight and Government Reform 
Committee on September 23, 2010. In addition, this legislation enjoys 
the support of over 50 Members of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, born on October 20, 1910, in Queens, New York, Bob 
Sheppard served as the public-address announcer for the New York 
Yankees from opening day in 1951 through 2007 and was also the PA 
announcer for the New York Giants from 1956 through 2005. During this 
period, Mr. Sheppard announced 4,500 Yankees baseball games, including 
22 pennant-winning seasons and 13 World Series championships. 
Additionally, during his half century covering the New York Giants, Mr. 
Sheppard announced nine conference championships and three NFL 
championships.
  Mr. Sheppard prided himself on being clear, concise, and correct; and 
his distinctive style earned him the nickname ``the voice of God,'' 
which was first coined by Yankee Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson. Mr. 
Sheppard's distinctive style has set the standard of sports announcing, 
and as New York Times writer Richard Goldstein notes, ``In an era of 
blaring stadium music, of public-address announcers styling themselves 
as entertainers and cheerleaders, Mr. Sheppard, a man with a passion 
for poetry and Shakespeare, shunned hyperbole.''
  Notably, Mr. Sheppard did not limit his oratory skills to the 
baseball diamond and the football field. In fact, he also served as 
chairman of the speech department at the John Adams High School in 
Queens and as an adjunct professor of speech at St. John's University 
in the Bronx. For his tireless dedication to his craft, Mr. Sheppard 
was elected to the St. John's University Sports Hall of Fame, the Long 
Island Sports Hall of Fame, and the New York Sports Hall of Fame. He 
also received honorary doctorates from St. John's University and 
Fordham University and received the St. John's Medal of Honor, the 
highest award that the university can confer on a graduate, in 2007.
  On May 7, 2000, Mr. Sheppard's legacy was enshrined in Yankee 
Stadium's Monument Park with a plaque that reads: ``Bob Sheppard, the 
voice of Yankee Stadium. For half a century he has welcomed generations 
of fans with his trademark greeting, `Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to 
Yankee Stadium.' His clear, concise, and correct vocal style has 
announced the names of hundreds of players--both unfamiliar and 
legendary--with equal divine reference, making him as synonymous with 
Yankee Stadium as its copper facade and Monument Park.'' Sadly, on July 
11, 2010, Mr. Sheppard passed away at the age of 99 in his home in 
Baldwin, New York.
  Mr. Speaker, let us further honor the life and legacy of Mr. Sheppard 
through the passage of H. Res. 1529, which recognizes his distinctive 
style of announcing, influence on the entire field of sports 
announcing, and also commends him on his 52 years of service as a 
public-address announcer and speech professor. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting H. Res. 1529.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1529, 
commending Bob Sheppard in his long and respected career.
  At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to have the honor of yielding 
to the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) so that she has plenty 
of time to address this item.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank my 
colleague. I want to thank Ms. Norton and again my colleague and I want 
to thank everybody on the committee.
  I do rise today to ask my colleagues to support H. Res. 1529, 
commending Bob Sheppard for his long and respected career as the 
public-address announcer for the New York Yankees and the New York 
Giants. As someone who has spent my whole life in New York, his voice 
was very, very distinctive not only to New Yorkers but to many, many of 
my colleagues across the country.
  On July 11, 2010, Mr. Sheppard passed away at the age of 99 in his 
home in Baldwin, which is part of my district, the Fourth Congressional 
District in New York. Mr. Sheppard was a constant in sports announcing 
for over 50 years. His distinctive voice was recognized by both players 
and fans. Each game began with his trademark cadence--as we in New York 
kind of talk sometimes funny--``Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, 
and welcome to Yankee Stadium.''
  He performed the role as a public-address announcer at Yankee Stadium 
from opening day in 1951 through the year 2007, and as the public 
address announcer for the New York Giants from 1956 through the year 
2005. At the age of 62, he announced the World Series games, two All-
Star games, and has introduced more than 72 Hall-of-Famers throughout 
his career. He will always be remembered for his clear, concise, and 
correct announcements and pronunciations, taking pride in the name of 
every player he introduced.
  Bob Sheppard utilized his great oratory skills not only in the sports 
arena but, as was mentioned, as the chairman of the speech department 
at John Adams High School in Queens and as professor of speech at St. 
John's University. Bob Sheppard was honored for his 50 memorable years 
of service as the announcer at Yankee Stadium with Bob Sheppard Day, 
celebrated on May 7, 2000, and with a permanent plaque in Monument Park 
behind Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. His voice will always continue to 
live on as the recorded introduction of Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter.
  My resolution serves to recognize the legacy of Bob Sheppard and his 
distinctive announcing style as a revered tradition not only to the New 
York Yankees and to the New York Giants, but also, as I said earlier, 
to the games of baseball and football and the field of sports 
announcing. I do want to thank my 52 colleagues, cosponsors of the 
resolution, including many Members who are fans of other teams. I have 
to say, though, the majority of us were over a certain age that 
certainly remembered Bob. Additionally, the resolution commends Mr. 
Sheppard for his 52 years of service in the field of sports announcing 
and his dedication to spreading his knowledge and skill through 
teaching

[[Page 17612]]

speech at both the high school and the college levels.
  Today, we do salute Bob Sheppard. I ask my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1529.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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