Viewers tuned in to CSPAN around 4 p.m. to see the live tribute.
Gingrey's communication director, Becky Ruby, gave the Cedartown Standard a copy of the speech. It states:
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of football all-star and community hero Ray Beck, who passed away last week in Cedartown, Georgia.
Mr. Beck is a football legend both in my home state of Georgia and across the nation. After four years as a star on the Cedartown High School football team, Ray attended Georgia Tech, my alma matter, to play guard for the legendary coach Bobby Dodd.
In 1951, he was named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association AND the Football Writers Association. That same year, he helped lead Georgia Tech to an 11-1 season and an Orange Bowl victory over Baylor.
After college, Beck was drafted by the New York Giants. He was part of their 1956 World Championship team, helping the Giants achieve a 56-7 victory over the Chicago Bears - a far more lopsided score than Indianapolis achieved this past weekend.
On the football field, Ray was known as a team player, someone who gave his all to the game. Because of his tremendous work ethic, he was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
But Ray was more than just a football player. He was an active and enthusiastic supporter of the Cedartown community. The same attitude that made him a star on the field made him a hero in his community.
There's hardly an organization in Cedartown that hasn't been touched by Beck's generosity. He was chairman of the Cedartown Development Authority, president of the Cedartown Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Polk Medical Center advisory board, and a board member of the Georgia Motor Trucking Association.
But perhaps he will be best remembered for a charity golf tournament he arranged with his longtime friend, Doc Ayers. This annual event raises thousands of dollars for Polk County charities, from children's literacy programs to local food banks.
It is little wonder Beck was named a Citizen of Excellence by the Cedartown Civic Arts Commission for his philanthropy to the community.
One of Ray's former teammates commented that he was "one of the people you could always count on." Ray took that attitude from the football field to the community of Cedartown, and his contributions to both will live on as his legacy. I send my deepest condolences to his wife, Claire, and to his whole family. I know all of Polk County mourns your loss.
Mr. Speaker, as our younger generation looks to sports stars as heroes and role models, I hope they come across men like Ray Beck. He was committed to his team, and committed to his community. He gave his all on the field, and then gave back to town where he was raised. He was generous with his time, his wisdom, and his energy. And Cedartown, Georgia is a far better place because of him.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring the legacy of Ray Beck, and I yield back the balance of my time."
Liles said that the time had changed several times due to scheduled voting yesterday. However, if anyone missed the tribute, but would like a video copy, she will provide that for them if they contact her office. Liles can be reached at her Rome office at 706-290-1776.
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