In Praise of Sam Budnyk

IN PRAISE OF SAM BUDNYK-HON. MARK FOLEY (Extensions of Remarks - September 14, 2004)

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to praise Sam Budnyk, a remarkable coach in South Florida who is retiring this year as head football coach for the Cardinal Newman High School Crusaders in West Palm Beach.

After 43 years as the school's only head football coach ever, Coach Budnyk has decided to retire his position. He also coached men's basketball and women's softball and track over the course of his career.

As first coach and athletic director, Coach Budnyk was responsible for pushing both minority and women's rights in high school athletics in Palm Beach County.

In 1965, he hired the first African-American assistant football coach to work at a private school in the state. By 1967, he was the first coach in the county in an all-white high school to have a football game against the all-black John F. Kennedy High School. In 1973, he was recognized by the National Organization for Women for allowing the first girl in Palm Beach County to run varsity track.

Not only have his victories been represented on the playing field, they also have resonated through the student-athletes who went on to various college institutions on scholarships and completed their education successfully. As the winningest coach in Palm Beach County history, Coach Budnyk was responsible for sending at least three of his Crusader football players to the NFL.

Sam Budnyk is a legend in his own time among all those who have met him, learned from him, became better people because of him-including my own father, who had the honor of serving as his assistant coach in football, baseball, basketball and track in the late '60s.

Sam Budnyk will still contribute at Cardinal Newman by remaining its athletic director and by teaching there. But his presence on the football field will be missed.

I would like to congratulate and thank him for all his selfless years of giving that have affected countless Newman graduates.