[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 250-251]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING COACH FRANK BEAMER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 8, 2016

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Coach Frank Beamer on 
the occasion of his retirement as the head football coach of Virginia 
Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), located in 
Blacksburg, Virginia, as he concludes his highly successful

[[Page 251]]

career. For almost three decades, Coach Beamer has been a tremendous 
leader in Virginia, and a mentor to hundreds of student athletes.
  In twenty nine seasons under Coach Beamer's leadership, Virginia Tech 
Football has enjoyed unprecedented success, notching 237 wins, three 
Big East championships, four Atlantic Coast Conference championships, 
and the opportunity to play for a national championship. His ``Beamer 
Ball'' style of play has led Virginia Tech to become one of the 
nation's most respected college football programs. In 1999, Coach 
Beamer was named the consensus Associated Press College Football Coach 
of the Year.
  Coach Beamer's first postseason berth as head coach at Virginia Tech 
was a trip to the 1993 Independence Bowl game which resulted in a 
victory for the Hokies. It was only fitting that Coach Beamer ended his 
coaching career with a 55-52 victory over the University of Tulsa in 
the 2015 Independence Bowl, capping off a school record 23 straight 
postseason bowl games.
  Raised in Hillsville, Virginia, Coach Beamer graduated from 
Hillsville High School where he earned eleven varsity letters as a 
three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He went on 
to attend Virginia Tech as an undergraduate and started three years as 
a cornerback, playing on the Hokie's 1966 and 1968 Liberty Bowl teams. 
While attending Radford University to receive his master's degree in 
guidance, he began his coaching career in 1969 as an assistant at 
Radford High School. From there he went on to work as a graduate 
assistant at Maryland for one year, followed by the Citadel for five 
seasons, where he was defensive coordinator for two of them. In 1979, 
Coach Beamer joined Murray State University as defensive coordinator 
and was named head coach in 1981. In 1987, Coach Beamer made his way 
back to his native Southwest Virginia to take the reins at Virginia 
Tech. He has brought honor to Southwest Virginia and Virginia Tech by 
always being the consummate Virginia gentlemen and a darn good coach to 
boot. He has devoted his time and passion to the teams he has coached 
as well as the greater Southwest Virginia community. In 2004, he was 
presented with a Humanitarian Award by the National Conference for 
Community and Justice for his contributions to fostering justice, 
equity, and community in the Roanoke Valley.
  As evidenced by his incredible success, Coach Beamer has much to be 
proud of, and can look back on an honest and accomplished career. His 
passion for coaching led him to achieve what many coaches dream of. He 
has shaped futures and touched lives in Virginia and the nation that 
extend generations. This is the true measure of a great coach.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to help commemorate the career of a 
remarkable man. After twenty nine years of dedicated leadership to 
Virginia Tech and the greater community, I would like to thank Coach 
Beamer for his service. I wish him and his family all of the best in 
retirement.

                          ____________________