III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 579 

Honoring the life of Manute Bol and expressing the condolences of the 

Senate on his passing. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 13, 2010 

Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself and Mr. LIEBERMAN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life of Manute Bol and expressing the 

condolences of the Senate on his passing. 

Whereas Manute Bol was born the son of a Dinka tribal chief 

in Sudan, and was given the name ‘‘Manute’’, which 

means ‘‘special blessing’’; 

Whereas Manute Bol traveled to the United States in 1983 

and played college basketball at the University of Bridgeport during the 1984–1985 season; 

Whereas Manute Bol began his National Basketball 

Assocation (NBA) career with the Washington Bullets in 

1985, setting the rookie shot-blocking record; 

Whereas Manute Bol played in the NBA for 10 years, setting 

numerous shot-blocking records; 


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•SRES 579 IS 

Whereas, after beginning his career in the NBA, Manute Bol 

used his fame and fortune to raise funding and awareness for the people of Sudan; 

Whereas Manute Bol was admitted to the United States as 

a religious refugee and lost over 250 members of his extended family to a civil war rife with religious tensions, 

but nevertheless spent his life working for reconciliation 

between Christians and Muslims in Sudan; 

Whereas Manute Bol’s last project to foster reconciliation 

was to build 41 schools for Christians and Muslims to 

learn and live together in the spirit of reconciliation; 

Whereas Manute Bol constantly put himself in danger to 

bring peace and stability to Sudan, including by flying 

into war zones and visiting refugee camps that were targeted for aerial attack; 

Whereas, on Manute Bol’s last humanitarian visit to Sudan, 

the President of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, requested 

that Manute Bol extend his visit to make appearances at 

Sudan’s national election and use his influence to counter 

corruption, which ultimately led to the deterioration of 

his health and his sudden death; 

Whereas Manute Bol advocated for human rights in Sudan 

by appearing before Congress and lobbying Members of 

Congress, thus positively influencing United States foreign policy on Sudan; 

Whereas, after Manute Bol retired, he resided in West Hartford, Connecticut, and Olathe, Kansas; 

Whereas Manute Bol died at the age of 47 on June 19, 2010; 

and 


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•SRES 579 IS 

Whereas Manute Bol’s perseverance in his advocacy for 

Sudan affected the lives of thousands, and possibly millions, of people in Sudan: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses profound sorrow at the death of 

3 Manute Bol; 

4 (2) conveys its condolences to the family, 

5 friends, and colleagues of Manute Bol; 

6 (3) expresses gratitude to Manute Bol for his 

7 passion and determination in raising awareness of 

8 human rights abuses, and his dedication to bringing 

9 peace to Sudan; and 

10 (4) encourages the National Collegiate Athletic 

11 Association (NCAA) and the National Basketball 

12 Association (NBA) to pursue exhibition games with 

13 a Sudanese basketball team to increase awareness of 

14 the political and humanitarian situation in Sudan, 

15 with proceeds from these games donated toward the 

16 construction of reconciliation schools in Sudan, as 

17 proposed by Manute Bol. 

Æ 


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