[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 23239] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO DON KING ______ HON. JOSE E. SERRANO of new york in the house of representatives Wednesday, September 29, 1999 Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of America's greatest boxing promoters, Mr. Don King. Born on August 20, 1931, and raised in the Cleveland housing projects by his mother Hattie, Don beat the odds to become a very successful promoter. His shocking hair style, infectious smile, booming laugh, inimitable vocabulary and his catch phrase ``Only in America!'' have made Don King universally recognizable. King's career as a promoter spans three decades and includes more than 500 world championship fights, but it began with a plea to help save a Cleveland hospital. Facing a severe shortage of funds, Forest City Hospital was prepared to shut down. King knew the hospital was vital to poor and working class people. He sought out heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and asked him to support a benefit to raise money for the hospital. The two men hit it off and the hospital was saved. Mr. Speaker, Don's promotions have entertained billions around the globe. His life has been devoted to staging the best in world championship boxing, as well as giving back to the people. Don King promotes events that have given the sports and entertainment world some of their most thrilling and memorable moments and have advanced the careers of many African-American and Puerto Rican fighters. In 1974 King promoted one of history's biggest fights in the former Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Dubbed ``The Rumble in the Jungle,'' the fight featured Muhammad Ali against George Foreman. The first major black promoter, King controlled the heavyweight title from 1978-90 while Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson were champions. He regained control of the heavyweight title in 1994 with wins by Oliver McCall (WBC) and Bruce Seldon (WBA). Other fighters he promoted include Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez and of course the new WBC welterweight champion, Mr. Felix ``Tito'' Trinidad. King's tireless and continuous philanthropic efforts are rarely chronicled, but as he says, ``if you do something just to get noticed, then it is not a truly charitable gesture.'' He established the Don King Foundation, and through it has donated millions of dollars to worthy causes and organizations. As a reminder of the economic hardship he endured growing up, King has gone into neighborhoods every holiday season and personally handed out turkeys to needy families. Don's ``Turkey Tour'' has given away hundreds of thousands of turkey dinners over the years in cities across the country during the holiday season. Inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997, King was the only boxing promoter named to Sports Illustrated's list of the ``40 Most Influential Sports Figures of the Past 40 Years.'' The New York Times published a list that included Don King among 100 African-Americans who have helped shape this country's history during the last century. The honors and awards he has been given are almost beyond counting. Don King is married to Henrietta and they have two sons, Carl and Eric, a daughter, Debbie, and five grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to America's greatest boxing promoter, Mr. Don King. ____________________