Honoring Larry Doby
Channel: RepPascrell
Date: 2016-07-06

Honoring of Larry Doby’s many achievements and contributions to American major league athletics, civil rights, and the armed forces, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and Jim Renacci (R-OH) announced the Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act to posthumously award him the Congressional Gold Medal.

Rep. Pascrell made the announcement at the Larry Doby festivities in Paterson, NJ.

"Like me, Larry Doby started out as a kid on the streets of Paterson, New Jersey, but he went on to blossom into a sports legend, a pioneer of American civil rights, and a man of great service to his country," Rep. Pascrell said. "Larry handled adversity with strength and served as an inspiration for minority kids and adults since his landmark introduction to the major league. Paterson couldn't be prouder to call him one of our own, and now we call on Congress to bestow this overdue honor to Larry's family. I appreciate my friend my Ohio, Rep. Renacci, for joining me in this bipartisan effort to recognize a great American."

In one of his first acts upon coming to Congress in 1997, Rep. Pascrell sponsored legislation in Congress (H.R. 2116) designating the post office at 194 Ward Street in Paterson as the Larry Doby Post Office, which was signed by President Bill Clinton and became Public Law 105-162. In 2012, the United States Postal Service released a commemorative postage stamp with Larry Doby’s likeness. Pascrell joined the USPS for a ceremony to unveil the stamp at the Larry Doby Post Office.