Introduction of Paul Tagliabue Commissioner of The National Football League, November 6, 1997

AT THE UNITED WAY LUNCHEON

IRA A. LIPMAN

CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT GUARDSMARK, INC.

THE PEABODY HOTEL NOVEMBER 6, 1997

PAUL TAGLIABUE IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY DURING THE 1997/1998 CAMPAIGN FOR THE UNITED WAY OF THE MID-SOUTH. IT IS ESPECIALLY EXCITING TO SEE OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MILLINGTON NAVY BASE AND FROM LAROSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

REMEMBER OUR CAMPAIGN TWELVE YEARS AGO THAT LED THE FIFTY LARGEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES WITH AN EIGHTEEN PERCENT INCREASE. THE UNITED WAY OF THE MID-SOUTH REPRESENTS MANY GROUPS THAT HAVE BASIC NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DEPEND ON YOUR SUCCESS IN THE REMAINING WEEKS OF THE CAMPAIGN. YOUR MISSION IS CRITICAL FOR HUMAN NEEDS IN THIS S COMMUNITY.

AS A VOLUNTEER CAMPAIGN CHAIR AND MEMBER OF THE UNITED WAY OF AMERICA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW WE COULD COMPLETE OUR MISSION AS VOLUNTEERS IF WE DID NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. THEY HAVE BEEN SENSATIONAL. THEY HAVE BEEN TERRIFIC. THEY HAVE BEEN LOYAL. THAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WAS FORGED WITH COMMISSIONER PETE ROZELLE AND HIS WIFE CARRIE YEARS AGO HAS ONLY STRENGTHENED IN THE YEARS PAST BECAUSE OF PAUL TAGLIABUE AND THE NATIONAL L FOOTBALL LEAGUE OWNERS, PLAYERS, ASSISTANTS, STAFF AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE LEAGUE. PAUL TAGLIABUE WHAT DOES TILE NFL REPRESENT?

THEY REPRESENT THE GREATEST FORM OF DIVERSITY, AN EXAMPLE TO MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF AMERICAN PEOPLE EVERY WEEK, EVERY TIME THEY PLAY A GAME. THEY ARE FINE PEOPLE. THEY ARE DEDICATED TO THEIR COMMUNITY, TO THEIR COUNTRY AND TO SERVING HUMAN NEEDS WITH HUMAN CHARITY AS EVIDENCED BY THE PRESENCE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE HERE TODAY.

I HAVE HAD THE PERSONAL PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AND WORKING AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS WITH PAUL TAGLIABUE FOR SIX YEARS. HE HAS SOME TENNESSEE TIES. HIS BIO WOULD BE TOO LENGTHY FOR ME TO DESCRIBE.

PAUL TAGUABUE NATIVE OF NEW JERSEY. GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN UNION CITY. HONOR STUDENT. HIGHLY RECRUITED BASKETBALL PLAYER. ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. MAJORED IN GOVERNMENT. CAPTAIN OF THE BASKETBALL TEAM. PRESIDENT OF THE SENIOR CLASS. RHODES SCHOLAR FINALIST. DEAN’S LIST HONOR R GRADUATE. GRADUATED FROM NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW ON A PUBLIC-SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP. EDITOR OF THE LAW REVIEW. GRADUATED WITH HONORS. MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF NEW YORK UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL. HE IS MARRIED, AND HE AND HIS WIFE CHANDLER HAVE TWO CHILDREN.

HE HAS SERVED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND WAS AWARDED THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MERITORIOUS CIVILIAN SERVICE MEDAL, THE DEPARTMENT’S HIGHEST AWARD. HE WAS A SENIOR PARTNER AT COVINGTON & BURLING, A PRESTIGIOUS WASHINGTON, D.C. LAW FIRM. HE WAS ALSO THE NFL’S PRINCIPAL OUTSIDE COUNSEL. HE SUCCEEDED A LEGEND AND HE HAS SUCCEEDED. THAT IS HIS GREATEST STRENGTH. HE HAS SUCCEEDED A LEGEND AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. HE HAS SUCCEEDED A LEGEND AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. I KNOW HIM AS A CARING, COMMITTED, FINE MAN. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HE ALSO WEARS ANOTHER HAT TODAY. HE IS THE NEW CHAIR ELECT OF THE UNITED WAY OF AMERICA BOARD OF GOVERNORS. HE WILL BECOME CHAIR OF THE UNITED WAY IN ATLANTA IN APRIL. LET’S GIVE HIM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. HE REPRESENTS WHAT WE ARE IN THIS ROOM FOR TODAY: HELPING PEOPLE.