Honoring Norm Antinetti

Representative Gary A. Condit

Mr. Speaker, today I honor a very special person, Mr. Norm Antinetti, as he enters into a well-deserved retirement after 40 years of dedicated service to Oakdale High School.

Norm's list of accomplishments is impressive. He has the distinction of holding the longest tenure in the history of Oakdale High. During that career he coached football, baseball, and the love of his life, basketball.

There's a saying in Oakdale, Mr. Speaker: If you grew up in Oakdale and played basketball, you know Norm. He's as much a fixture on the court as his red Oakdale Mustangs baseball cap or jacket is on him.

As a coach, he guided teams to four Valley Oak League championships and won four other major tournament championships. He coached the Kiwanis Large Schools South All-Star basketball team twice and started Oakdale's 30-year-old Rotary Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament.

He's been named the California Interscholastic Federation — San Joaquin Athletic Director of the Year, Stanislaus District Coach of the Year, Valley Oak League Varsity Coach of the Year, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coach of the Year, to name only a few of his accolades.

It is rare that we are able to recognize such a selfless person. He is a fitting example of what is right about getting involved with our young people and being a positive role model for them.

I consider it a privilege to call him friend and am very proud to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Norm Antinetti.

[Taken from the Congressional Record, 27 July 2000, page E1383.]