PRINTER'S NO. 2944
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
616
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MALONEY, BERNSTINE, BIZZARRO, BURNS, COX,
DiGIROLAMO, HARKINS, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY, KNOWLES, KORTZ,
LONGIETTI, MACKENZIE, MILLARD, MOUL, MURT, READSHAW, ROEBUCK,
RYAN, SCHMITT, SONNEY, STAATS, WHEELAND, FRITZ AND GILLEN,
NOVEMBER 22, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
NOVEMBER 22, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Congratulating Roger Penske on being awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom.
WHEREAS, On October 24, 2019, President Donald Trump awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom to auto racing legend Roger
Penske; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Penske was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, in
1937, and developed an appreciation for automobiles and racing
at a young age; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Penske attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania, where he studied business administration and began
his racing career; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Penske had numerous victories as a young racer,
winning accolades for his skills, including being named Sports
Car Driver of the Year by Sports Illustrated; and
WHEREAS, Following an early retirement from driving, Mr.
Penske turned his attention to the business side of the sport,
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eventually establishing Team Penske, which over the decades has
recorded more than 545 major race wins, including 18
Indianapolis 500s and 36 championships; and
WHEREAS, The tremendous success of Mr. Penske's racing team
led to his 2019 induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as an
owner; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Penske further expanded his business endeavors
to become founder and chairman of Penske Corporation, a
diversified on-highway transportation services company operating
in more than 3,600 locations and employing more than 64,000
people across the globe; and
WHEREAS, Penske Entertainment, a subsidiary of Penske
Corporation, purchased Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its
IndyCar Series in November 2019, becoming just the fourth owner
of the iconic speedway in its 110 years of operation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Penske follows Richard Petty as the second
legend of American racing to receive the Presidential Medal of
Freedom, which is a fitting tribute to the many contributions he
has made to motorsports and his success as a self-made
businessman; and
WHEREAS, The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's
highest civilian honor and those who receive it are truly worthy
of recognition by the Pennsylvania General Assembly; therefore
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania congratulate Roger Penske on being
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr.
Penske as an expression of the continuing admiration the
residents of this Commonwealth have for him and his
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contributions to motorsports.
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