E1368 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 31, 2012 

IN HONOR OF DODGER STADIUM 

IN RECOGNITION OF ITS 50TH 

ANNIVERSARY 

HON. XAVIER BECERRA OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

honor one of Los Angeles’ greatest landmarks, 

Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles 

Dodgers. The 2012 season marks the 50th 

anniversary of Dodger Stadium. 

It ranks as the third oldest, continually-used 

park in Major League Baseball and still one of 

the most attended and highly regarded stadiums in America. Dodger Stadium has hosted 

more than 143 million fans since it opened its 

doors in 1962. The club topped the 3.85 million attendance mark in 2007, which stands as 

the all-time franchise record. 

Ever since Brooklyn Dodger President Walter O’Malley decided to move his team to Los 

Angeles in 1958 and bring Major League 

Baseball to California for the first time, this 

stadium has been home to some of the most 

memorable events in Dodger history. Many 

Dodger fans still recall Sandy Koufax’s perfect 

game in 1965, the rise of Fernandomania, and 

Kirk Gibson’s walk-off home run in Game 1 of 

the 1988 World Series. 

Since opening its gates, Dodger Stadium 

has hosted eight World Series and the Los 

Angeles Dodgers have won four World Championships, eight National League pennants, 11 

National League Western Division crowns and 

two National League Wild Card berths. From 

1992 to 1996, the Dodgers set a major league 

baseball record with five consecutive players 

being named Rookie of the year: Eric Karros, 

Mike Piazza, Raul Mondesi, Hideo Nomo and 

Todd Hollandsworth. 

Dodger Stadium has awed spectators with a 

breathtaking view of downtown Los Angeles to 

the south; green, tree-lined Elysian hills to the 

north and east; and the San Gabriel Mountains beyond. Walter O’Malley and architecht 

Emil Praeger designed the 56,000-seat stadium, the second privately financed ballpark in 

baseball history. Its wavy roof atop each outfield pavilion, cantilevered grandstands and 

unique terraced-earthworks parking lot behind 

the main stands make Dodger Stadium one of 

the most innovatively designed baseball stadiums. 

Besides being home of the Los Angeles 

Dodgers, the stadium has played host to the 

Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 1980 

and the Olympic Games’ baseball competition 

in 1984. The eight-team competition during the 

1984 Olympic Games marked baseball’s 

greatest involvement in the Olympic Games to 

that point. The Olympic spirit returned to Los 

Angeles again in 1991, as Dodger Stadium 

hosted the Opening Ceremonies for the United 

States Olympic Festival. In 2004, the Olympic 

Torch relay in Los Angeles concluded at 

Dodger Stadium as Rafer Johnson lit the cauldron at Chavez Ravine. 

Dodger Stadium has also been the site of 

numerous non-baseball major events. On September 16, 1987 Pope John Paul II celebrated 

Mass at Dodger Stadium to a crowd of 63,000 

people. Entertainers from around the world 

have performed here as well, such as Madonna, The Beatles and Michael Jackson. 

Dodger Stadium also staged one of the 

world’s greatest entertainment events in 1994, 

when internationally-renowned tenors Jose 

Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano 

Pavarotti reunited for a spectacular concert 

performance ‘‘Encore—The Three Tenors’’ 

with conductor Zubin Mehta. 

Without a doubt, Dodger Stadium is one of 

America’s treasured venues. It continues to be 

a major part of the history and tradition of the 

Dodgers. It has been the home of one of professional sports’ most storied franchises, a 

destination for a worldwide fan base and an 

enduring monument for a bustling, multicultural city. For 50 years in the heart of Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has truly been a home 

for both a team and a community. I am honored to have such an organization and landmark in the 31st Congressional District of California. 

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep pride that I ask 

my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 

‘‘Golden Anniversary’’ of one of America’s 

great landmarks, Dodger Stadium. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO FLOMATON POLICE 

CHIEF DANIEL THOMPSON 

HON. JO BONNER OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor 

Police Chief Daniel Thompson of the 

Flomaton, Alabama Police Department for his 

heroic efforts to save the life of a 3-year-old 

boy on July 7, 2012. 

While off-duty at the house of a friend, Chief 

Thompson was alerted by calls for help from 

a neighboring house. He acted quickly to 

reach a child who was unresponsive after falling into a swimming pool. Chief Thompson 

promptly performed CPR on the boy for several minutes until the boy regained consciousness. Other rescuers soon responded and 

took over care of the child. Due to Chief 

Thompson’s well-trained and swift efforts, the 

young boy was able to be air lifted to Sacred 

Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he made a 

full recovery. 

Chief Thompson began his career in law enforcement seven years ago, and he is quoted 

as saying, ‘‘I always wanted to do something 

to help people.’’ His actions serve as a model 

for others, and also show that public servants 

are never truly off duty. While we often take 

their service for granted, it can truly be a 

blessing when they are nearby in our time of 

need. While Chief Thompson may not have 

been wearing his badge at the time of the incident, his actions reflect a man who wears the 

motto ‘‘to protect and serve’’ in his heart. 

This incident also illustrates the importance 

of being trained in CPR. One may never use 

the skill; however, when faced with a crisis situation, it may mean the difference between 

life and death. Flomaton Fire Chief Steve 

Stanton called Chief Thompson ‘‘a real hero,’’ 

and I think we all share his sentiments. I 

would like to echo his comments. 

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Alabama and my colleagues in the Alabama delegation, I wish to extend personal appreciation 

to Chief Thompson for his quick action to save 

a life, and to all those who serve us every day 

in our communities. We can never thank them 

enough. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF COL. TIMOTHY 

SULLIVAN’S CHANGE OF COMMAND 

HON. MIKE ROGERS OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I 

ask for the House’s attention today to recognize Colonel Timothy Sullivan who will have a 

change of command from Anniston Army 

Depot in August. 

Sullivan received a commission as an Ordnance Officer in 1988 after graduating from 

Jacksonville State University. He later earned 

a Master of Science Degree in Information 

Systems Management from Florida Tech University in 2001 and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Air War College, Air University in 

2010. 

His previous assignments include Platoon 

Leader, 503rd Maintenance Company, 530th 

S&S Battalion, 1st COSCOM; Platoon Leader 

and Shop Officer, Charlie Company, 782nd 

Maintenance Battalion, 82nd DISCOM, 82nd 

Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Company 

Commander, 520th Maintenance Company, 

194th Maintenance Battalion, 23rd Area Support Group, Camp Humphrey’s Korea; Operations Officer and Brigade Executive Officer, 

59th Ordnance Brigade, Redstone Arsenal, 

Ala.; RTD Team Chief, 351st Infantry Battalion, 158th Infantry Brigade, Patrick Air 

Force Base, Fla.; Support Operations Officer 

and Battalion Executive Officer, 13th Corps 

Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 

3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; 

APMS, Auburn University Army ROTC; Commander, 13th Combat Sustainment Support 

Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division; Chief, Logistics Division, Special 

Operations Command, Joint Forces Command 

(SOCJFCOM), SOCOM, Suffolk, Va.; and, 

most recently, graduate of the Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 

While at Anniston Army Depot, he safely 

helped execute millions of direct labor hours 

while helping overhaul and maintain our nation’s critical combat equipment. His hands-on 

leadership for the workforce helped ensure our 

nation’s military was provided the best possible equipment available to keep them as 

safe as possible while allowing them to accomplish their vital mission. 

Mr. Speaker, we will miss Colonel Sullivan 

in Anniston, but wish him the very best. 


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