[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF HENRY L. ``HANK'' AARON

                                  _____
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 16, 2017

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to 
rise today to recognize a legendary baseball player, great 
philanthropist, and outstanding citizen, Henry L. ``Hank'' Aaron. Hank 
and his wife, Billye, will be honored by the Mobile Area Mardi Gras 
Association (MAMGA) in Mobile, Alabama, on February 26-27, 2017.
  Henry Louis Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, 
the third of eight children born to Herbert and Estella Aaron. Hank was 
interested in sports from an early age. Although he worked several jobs 
to help support his family, he spent a lot of time playing baseball at 
a neighborhood park. He transferred to the Allen Institute in Mobile 
his junior year of high school to participate in the school's organized 
baseball program.
  After graduating from high school, Hank began to make a name for 
himself playing with local amateur and semi-pro teams, including the 
Pritchett Athletics and the Mobile Black Bears. In 1951, Hank was 
signed as a shortstop for the Indianapolis Clowns, which was part of 
the professional Negro American League. In 1952, the Boston Braves 
purchased his contract and he was assigned to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 
Hank batted .336 and won the minor Northern League's Rookie of the Year 
Award. He was then assigned to the Braves' Jacksonville, Florida, team, 
in the South Atlantic (Sally) League. Despite enduring racial insults 
from fans and fellow players alike, Hank batted .362, with 22 homers 
and 125 runs batted in. He was named the league's Most Valuable Player 
in 1953.
  In 1954, Hank began to play for the Braves' major league team. After 
the 1965 season, the Braves moved to Atlanta, where on April 8, 1974, 
Hank hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's 39-year-old 
Major League record. By the time he retired in 1976, Hank had raised 
his all-time homer output to 755. But although Hank had retired from 
baseball, baseball had not retired from him. He became Vice President 
and Director of Player Development for the Braves, scouting new team 
prospects and overseeing the coaching of minor leaguers, before 
becoming Senior Vice President for the team. Due to his efforts, the 
Braves became one of the strongest teams in the National League.
  While many people know of Hank Aaron because of his accomplishments 
in baseball, it is Hank's philanthropy that truly sets him apart. In 
1995, Hank and Billye established the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream 
Foundation to give young people with limited opportunities a chance to 
pursue their dreams. While Hank had initially envisioned helping 755 
youngsters, the Foundation has provided vital financial assistance to 
more than 1,000 young people. The Foundation provides scholarships to 
college students and partners with Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the 
country to help young people develop their talents.
  Hank has received numerous awards and tributes for both his athletic 
ability and his charitable efforts. In 1982, he was voted into the 
Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York. In 1997, Hank Aaron 
Stadium in Mobile was dedicated to him. In 1999, Congress passed a 
resolution recognizing him as one of baseball's greatest players and 
praising his work with the Chasing the Dream Foundation. That year, 
Major League Baseball announced the creation of the Hank Aaron Award, 
given annually to the best overall hitter in each league. In 2002, Hank 
received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award 
of the United States.
  On a personal note, I am proud to consider Hank and the Aaron family 
friends of longstanding. He and I grew up in the same area of Mobile, 
Toulminville, and his sister, Alfredia, was my classmate from 
elementary school through Central High School Class of 1964. She and 
her husband, Congressman David Scott, continue to be dear friends to my 
wife and me.
  Indeed, Hank is a baseball legend but he is also an entrepreneur, 
civil rights leader, philanthropist, humanitarian and just an 
outstanding human being, period. His humility is unparalleled and his 
heart for helping others has made a tremendous impact throughout our 
nation and the world. He continues to make Mobilians proud.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and my wife, Vivian, in 
recognizing the perseverance, generosity, and legacy of Hank and Billye 
Aaron. Winston Churchill said: ``You make your living by what you get, 
you make a life by what you give.'' The Aarons embody this ideal 
perfectly and their spirit of giving is making lives for generations 
yet to come.

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