[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11297]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOEL MURRAY

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, today I wish to honor a young man 
who is now one of our Nation's finest Olympians.
  Joel Murray of West Monroe, LA, was recently invited to represent the 
United States of America at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer 
Games in Athens, Greece. Joel is an eight time Louisiana State golf 
champion and a two time national gold medalist, and this year was the 
first time in his 13 years competing in the Special Olympics that he 
was invited to compete in the World Summer Games.
  As a result of his dedication and commitment to the game he loves, 
Joel competed in Level V Stroke Play, the highest and most challenging 
level, and won a silver medal.
  Joel is also a 2011 Louisiana Special Olympics gold medalist, was 
recognized as the Louisiana Special Olympics male athlete of the year 
and was inducted into the Louisiana Special Olympics Hall of Fame.
  If his list of accolades wasn't long enough, in 2009, Joel set a 54-
hole tournament record for the Special Olympics Golf National 
Invitational Tournament. And away from golf, Joel devotes his time to 
counseling young adults with disabilities at the Louisiana Youth 
Leadership Forum.
  Mr. President, I am proud to honor Joel Murray and applaud him on his 
remarkable accomplishments.

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