In Honor of Pat Bowlen
Floor Speech
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Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Doug Lamborn, Congressman Scott Tipton, Congressman Ken Buck, Congressman Jason Crow, and Congressman Joe Neguse, to honor the life of Pat Bowlen, a beloved husband, father and long-time owner of the Denver Broncos. Pat is a household name for anyone who watches football. For over three decades, Pat made the city of Denver and the state of Colorado proud by demanding excellence in his team. ``I want to be No. 1 in everything'' Pat was famously known for saying. And, having brought home three Superbowl championships for Colorado, it's a motto he certainly lived by. During his tenure, the Broncos amassed over 300 wins, one of the highest marks for any one NFL team owner during the same amount of time. But his legacy stretches far beyond the field. Pat and his family often gave back to the community they loved. Pat was especially passionate about supporting the Boys and Girls Club of America--and since 2003, his generosity helped improve the lives of more than 15,000 teens living in the Denver metro area and around the state. Madam Speaker, Pat Bowlen lived a remarkable life and he will be missed. From ``The Drive'' to ``Tebow-mania'' to the Peyton Manning comeback story, Pat's impact on the Broncos will likely go unrivaled by anyone else. In 1998, when the Broncos won their first ever Superbowl, Pat turned to hoist the Lombardi trophy and declared, ``This one's for John.'' It was a simple phrase, but his tribute to the quarterback perfectly captured Pat's devotion to his team, and how he consistently lifted up his players and his community. So today, as members of Colorado's Congressional delegation, we wish to declare that ``this one's for Pat.'' We join with millions of Broncos fans around the country to thank him for the pride he brought to the team, the city of Denver, and our state. We offer our deepest condolences to the Bowlen family for their loss, and we hope that they find comfort in knowing how many Coloradans are so appreciative for Pat and his life's work.
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