[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6938]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING MARGIE WRIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 6, 2014

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Margie Wright as 
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) changes the name of 
Bulldog Diamond to Margie Wright Diamond. For nearly three decades, 
Margie dedicated her life as the head coach to the softball program at 
Fresno State. Her passion for the sport is truly exemplary, and she is 
more than deserving of this special recognition.
  Margie was raised in Warrensburg, Illinois, and her extraordinary 
athleticism was evident at a young age. In 1974, she graduated from 
Illinois State University where she played on both the softball and 
basketball teams for four years as well as the field hockey team for 
three years. Upon graduation, Margie played three years in the Women's 
Professional Softball League.
  Margie's career as a softball coach quickly took off. She began 
coaching at Metamora Illinois high school, and then continued on to 
become the assistant softball coach and the head volleyball coach at 
Eastern Illinois University. Prior to her arrival at Fresno State, 
Margie coached six years at Illinois State University.
  The expertise and knowledge that Margie brings to the game of 
softball goes unmatched. Margie changed the dynamic of the game during 
her career at Fresno State. Her leadership and dedication to ensuring 
the success of her teams has led to increased attendance and revenue 
for the university. Margie has the most wins of any softball coach on 
the Division I level, and she has the second most wins among National 
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I coaches, regardless 
of sport.
  In 1998, the Fresno State Bulldogs won the NCAA Women's College World 
Series under Margie's leadership, which was the first national team 
title won by the university. Margie also directed the program to three 
NCAA runner-up finishes while leading the program to 10 NCAA Women's 
College World Series appearances and 26 straight NCAA postseason 
appearances. Earning National Coach of the Year honors, she also led 
the program to 27 straight years ranked in the national polls and 
captured 17 outright or shared conference titles. Margie has coached 16 
Academic All-Americans, 53 NCAA All-Americans, 4 NCAA Postgraduate 
Scholarship Award winners, two NCAA Top VIII Awardees, 15 Olympians, 8 
professionals, and two No. 1 professional draft picks while averaging 
48 wins a season. In addition, in 1996, Margie served as the assistant 
coach to the United States Olympic Softball National Team which won the 
gold medal in the inaugural year of the Olympic sport. Margie is 
undoubtedly a legend as she has been inducted into 14 halls of fame.
  Most important are the lives Margie has positively affected through 
her dedication and work. Margie is a pioneer who fought for the rights 
of women. It is because of Margie's advocacy for equality that college 
campuses have grand stadiums, better salaries, and workable budgets for 
women's sports. The renaming of Bulldog Diamond to Margie Wright 
Diamond is a deserved tribute to her exceptional service at Fresno 
State.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives to recognize Margie Wright. Margie 
impacted the lives of many through her love of softball and has worked 
tirelessly for the advancement of women's athletics in California and 
the entire nation.

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