Lawmakers honor Paterno with silence

Lawmakers honor Paterno with silence

Published Jan. 23, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

Pennsylvania state lawmakers are remembering late college football coach Joe Paterno, recalling his commitment to students.

State senators and House representatives held moments of silence in their chambers Monday and listened to remarks from two Penn State alumni in honor of Paterno, major college football's winningest coach.

House Speaker Sam Smith says he'll remember the dignity and humbleness of a man who turned down the riches of an NFL coaching contract so he could make a difference in the lives of Penn State students.

Sen. Jake Corman calls Paterno an educator and humanitarian who took an interest in young people's lives, not just in what they could do on the football field. He says if people remember Paterno's commitment to excellence he'll never truly be gone.

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Paterno died Sunday at age 85.

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