Bill Pascrell: “I have some sad news this morning. A great American passed last evening. Larry Doby, 79 years of age, broke the color…”

“I have some sad news this morning. A great American passed last evening. Larry Doby, 79 years of age, broke the color barrier in the American League and became a Hall of Famer, but he was a Hall of Famer in his life. He said when inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998, ``Kids are our future, and we hope baseball has given them some idea of what it is to live together and how we can get along, whether you be black or white.'' He was a great American. He lost his wife, Helyn, just 2 years ago. Larry lived a very productive life in my hometown of Paterson, New Jersey, and lived in Montclair, which is part of my district as well. Mr. Speaker, if I can read from the resolution, a tribute to him back in 1997, which was entered into the Congressional Record, ``Despite his great accomplishments, Larry Doby has remained modest and endearing and a true gentleman. Mr. Doby always gives thanks to God for giving him the talent to help integrate baseball and American society and to Mr. Veck for giving him the opportunity to use that talent and to his wife Helyn for holding together their family while he was away.'' I ask that my colleagues join in a resolution which I will be introducing. We have lost a good American.”