Recognizing the historical and national significance of the many contributions of John William Heisman to the sport of football.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 123, recognizing the historical and national significance of the many contributions of John William Heisman to the sport of football.

John Heisman was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1869 and was raised in Titusville, Pennsylvania where he began playing football as a young boy. At that time, football was not played as it is today, but instead it resembled more of a rugby match. In 1887, Heisman left his home town for Brown University, where he participated in club football with his classmates. However, two years later he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania to pursue a law degree. Even though Heisman was outsized at 5'8", he continued his collegiate career playing varsity football for three years at guard, tackle, center, and as an end.

John Heisman was nearly debilitated from being struck by lightning and in turn had to take his final exams at the University of Pennsylvania orally to achieve his law degree in 1892. From there, he received his first coaching position at Oberlin College, where he led the team to an undefeated season in its second full season at the school. Clearly, Heisman had found a niche in coaching football, and his illustrious career was just beginning.

His coaching career continued with stints at the University of Akron, Auburn University, Clemson University, the University of Pennsylvania, Washington and Jefferson College, and Rice University. However, while his coaching career extended from 1892-1927, his most memorable years were from 1904-1919 when he coached at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. At Georgia Tech, Heisman had an astounding record of 102-29-6, and even held three undefeated seasons with 33 straight wins. Heisman went on to retire from the game he loved and so heavily influenced in 1927 at the age of 62. Even though Georgia Tech is my own alma mater, I think that every football player, coach, and fan will recognize that Heisman's record of achievement deserves our praise.

John Heisman's retirement did not last long as he moved to New York and found time to write about his experiences and served in various advisory positions. Because of his influence on the athletic community there he was asked to serve as the first Athletic Director of the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City on May 23, 1930. While serving in this capacity, Heisman organized and founded the Touchdown Club of New York, and later the National Football Coaches Association.

The Downtown Athletic Club insisted that Heisman design a voting system to honor and award the best collegiate football player of each year. Because of his humble love and respect for the game of football, he initially did not want to design such a system due to his misgivings about promoting a player over the importance of teamwork. However, he later noted that it would be a consummate team accomplishment to have such an award for one of its players. The first Downtown Athletic Club Award was given to Jay Berwanger in 1935, but John Heisman would be unable to award this distinguished honor to another young man in 1936 as he contracted pneumonia and passed away later that year. Shortly thereafter, the Downtown Athletic Club renamed their renowned trophy after its founder, calling it the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

Mr. Speaker, John Heisman has had a lasting impact on the game of football, and he undoubtedly inspires young men each year. The Heisman Trophy Award is the most sought after accolade in college football, and those who have honorably achieved that distinction will forever remember the accomplishments of the man that bears its name. Heisman molded the game of football to include the ``hike'' from a center to a quarterback, and he claimed his most notable achievement was enacting the forward pass into the rules of the game; both of which are staples of today's sport of football. I applaud John Heisman and recognize his lifetime of service and accomplishment in the game of football.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 123, recognizing the historic and national significance of the many contributions of John William Heisman to the sport of football.

John William Heisman was one of the single most influential individuals in the sport of football, the most watched sport in the United States. John Heisman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 23, 1869. He began his football career at Titusville High School. He was introduced to football through the Titusville Rockets and continued at Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his law degree in 1892.

He served as the head coach for a total of eight university football teams, including 16 years at Georgia Tech and 3 years at the University of Pennsylvania. He coached Georgia Tech in the most one-sided football game ever played--with a final score of 222-0--and led them in a 33- game winning streak. Of the 271 games John Heisman coached, in only 68 of those games did the opponents finish the game with a win. He retired in 1927 and passed away in 1936.

John Heisman's influence on football is undeniable but the history of football itself began before John Heisman's birth. American football was started sometime in the mid-19th century and was a divergence from the game of rugby. College students in the late 19th century took the lead in turning the evolving game of football into an organized support. In 1920 the American Professional Football Association was formed and 2 years later became the National Football League. The game of football has continued to evolve from that time to today with the influence of various coaches, rule makers and organization heads.

John William Heisman's influence on the game of football helped to make the game what it is today. His inventions include the four-quarter game, the ``hike,'' the center snap and the forward pass. In addition, he created many innovative plays that led to some of the basic formations used in today's games.

John William Heisman was a nationally recognized collegiate coach and an influential innovator. In the time before and after his death, his accomplishments were recognized by many nationwide. John Heisman had several articles published in magazines such as ``American Liberty'' and was the football editor of the ``Sporting Goods Journal.'' He served as the director of the Downtown Athletic Club in Manhattan, and in 1935 helped to create the award that would later be renamed the ``Heisman Memorial Trophy.''

John Heisman's accomplishments and contributions to the sport of football are many in number. His ideas and coaching helped to create the game that has become so imbedded in the culture of our Nation. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 123) recognizing the historical and national significance of the many contributions of John William Heisman to the sport of football.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on House Concurrent Resolution 123 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution filed by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) to recognize the significance of John Heisman and his tremendous influence on American football.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1869, John Heisman grew up and learned the game of football at Titusville High School. He began his collegiate football career at Brown University. However, he completed his playing years as a lineman at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Heisman began his illustrious coaching career at Oberlin College after he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He then went on to coach at Akron, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, the University of Pennsylvania, Washington and Jefferson, and Rice University. With his stern and innovative coaching style, he posted a 71 percent lifetime winning percentage. Most notably, he won 33 straight games when he coached the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. To this day, it is still one of the longest winning streaks in college football history. While coaching the Yellow Jackets, he led his team to a 222-0 victory over the defenseless Tennessee Cumberland College.

Heisman's football inventions revolutionized the game. He instituted the game divisions broken up into quarters, the center snap, and the T and I backfield formations. Most impressively, he established the forward pass. Without his contributions, American football would not be the same game that we experience today.

Late in his life, Heisman became the first athletic director of New York's Downtown Athletic Club. In 1933, John Heisman helped to organize the first Touchdown Club of New York, and in 1935 he inaugurated the first Downtown Athletic Club trophy for the best college football player east of the Mississippi. Two months after his death on October 3, 1936, the trophy was renamed the ``Heisman Memorial Trophy'' in his honor. The Heisman Trophy is now one of the most prestigious athletic awards in the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I want to express my support for House Concurrent Resolution 123 and thank Representative Thompson for bringing this resolution forward.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

We have no further speakers. Again, I salute Mr. Thompson for bringing this resolution forward, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I missed nine votes. Had I been present I would have voted.

Rollcall No. 596, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H.Con.Res. 164, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 597, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 2729, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 598, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 1622, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 599, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to, as Amended, H.Res. 507, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 600, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H.Res. 270, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 601, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to S.Con.Res. 30, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 602, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H.Con.Res. 123, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 603, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1933, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 604, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2632, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I was absent for the last three votes of the day on Tuesday July 21st. I apologize for my absence, and wish to add my intentions to the Record.

H. Con. Res. 123--Vote of ``yes'' would have been made.

H.R. 1933--Vote of ``yes'' would have been made.

H.R. 2632--Vote of ``yes'' would have been made.