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House Approves Coach Wooden Post Office

April 5, 2006

Washington, D.C. - The House on Wednesday passed legislation authored by Congressman Brad Sherman to name a post office for John R. Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach who lives in the San Fernando Valley.

œWe are proud that one of our Valley neighbors is the greatest coach of all time in any sport, Sherman said after the House approved his legislation to name the Reseda Post Office the Coach John Wooden Post Office.

Wooden, 95, lives in Encino in Shermans congressional district. His daughter, Nancy Muehlhausen, lives in nearby Reseda. (The Encino post office was named in 2002 for Chick Hearn, the late Los Angeles Lakers sportscaster.)

Naming federal buildings is how Congress honors distinguished individuals whose achievements warrant lasting recognition.

The bill now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to win easy passage.

As UCLA fell to Florida on Monday in the national title game, Wooden watched from a hospital where he had been admitted on Sunday. Sherman wished him a speedy recovery.

Wooden coached the Bruins to a record 10 national titles before he retired in 1975.

A mentor to his players and an inspiring example for all, Wooden shared his insights in numerous books, including The Pyramid of Success.

œThe coach taught the fundamentals of success on and off the basketball court, said Sherman, who attended UCLA in the early 1970s during the Bruin basketball heyday.

Wooden was a standout college player at Purdue University before he became the most successful coach in college basketball history. He is one of only three people enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.

Click the links to watch the House discussion of the bill:

https://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=180&DateTime=4/5/2006%201:32:57%20PM&Term="Brad%20Sherman"&PlayClip=TRUE

https://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=180&DateTime=4/5/2006%201:39:52%20PM&Term="Brad%20Sherman"&PlayClip=TRUE