Jim Clyburn

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Orangeburg County, South Carolina upon their receipt of the All-America County Award. This award, the oldest and most prestigious civic award in existence, recognizes communities for their outstanding problem solving efforts through local collaboration. It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge their tremendous achievement. I would also like to applaud the efforts of the local leaders that have worked so hard and accomplished so much. They include the Orangeburg County Council: John H. Rickenbacker, Harry F. Wimberly, Clyde B. Livingston, Heyward H. Livingston, Johnny Ravenell, and Johnnie Wright, Sr.; the Orangeburg County Administrator: Bill Clark; and the Orangeburg County Development Commission: B. Jeannine Kees, George R. Dean, Joey A. Williamson, Jr., E. J. Ayers, Willie R. Cantey, Barron Driskell, James C. Hunter, Jr., Ken Middleton, Marion F. Moore, Harry Nesmith, Alva Whetsell, Jr., and C. Gregory Robinson. Community pride has spurred many of the creative ideas leading to Orangeburg County's All-America County Award. This honor is a testament to business, government, and education communities working together for the good of the whole. These partnerships can be seen throughout the county. With this cooperative approach by the entire ``county community,'' improvements have been made to the quality of life for all citizens in the County of Orangeburg. Inventive initiatives have been implemented in the following areas: community development and revitalization, creative funding for public infrastructure, and improvement of the lives of ``at-risk'' children. Revitalization and community development have also been achieved in all 17 municipalities. This economic development achievement reflects 100 percent participation of local areas, including the following: Orangeburg, Livingston, North, Neeses, Woodford, Norway, Branchville, Santee, Rowesville, Springfield, Holly Hill, Eutawville, Bowman, Cordova, Cope, Vance, and Elloree. Funding through the Penny Sales Tax Capital Project has provided critical infrastructure investment in road construction, water and wastewater facilities, and other important areas such as parks and recreational projects. The original penny tax in 1998 funded 116 projects across the county, totaling $53 million in investment. The renewal in 2004 provides investment funds for 108 projects totaling $71 million. Creative youth and outreach projects such as Healing Species, a 3rd grade curriculum, which uses neglected and abused dogs in crime prevention seminars, have improved the lives of ``at-risk'' children county-wide. Created by Orangeburg County, the program is now being replicated nationally. The Youth Enhancement Summit is another successful community collaboration. Partnering with the County, South Carolina State University, and the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, the initiative brings children's service agencies across the entire county together to improve their overall effectiveness. Additionally, Orangeburg County's Community of Character effort is a collaborative initiative to partner with all segments of the community such as education, business, industry, family, faith, government, media, and civic. It establishes a community culture that encourages, recognizes, and rewards good character. Orangeburg County is one of only two counties in South Carolina, and 28 counties nationwide who have passed character resolutions. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in commending Orangeburg County for its well-deserved distinction as All-America County. Orangeburg County continues to make great strides in education, economic growth, and community development. Its dedicated citizens work everyday to create new promise. I am proud to represent them in this body and of their hard work and vision.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary group of students and their dedicated teacher and mentor. They are one of the American Government classes from Wilson High School and will represent the state of South Carolina in the national We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution Mock Congressional Hearing Competition. That event will be held here in Washington, DC during the month of April. Located in Florence, South Carolina, Wilson High School is one of the outstanding public schools I proudly represent in this body. These young scholars have worked diligently to reach the national finals and through their experiences have gained profound knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and values of our constitutional democracy. The students are: Jordan Berry, Robert Bonanno, Alyssa Carver, Kevin Cielo, Alexx Diera, Amanda Fan, Jessica Frieson, Carrie Goforth, Meagan Harley, James Howell, David Hubbs, Praveen Jacob, Challis King, Amit Om, Bradley Orr, Louis Palles, Robert Razick, Daniel Schuetz, and Ana Weiland. In addition, I would like to commend their teacher, Yvonne Rhodes, who deserves much of the credit for the success of the class. This is the third time Mrs. Rhoads has led a team of Wilson High Students to these national competitions. We certainly hope for their continued success. Also worthy of special recognition is Beth DeHart, the state coordinator, and Marsha Burch, the district coordinator, who are among those responsible for implementing the We the People program in my district. We the People is one of the most extensive educational programs in the country specifically developed to educate young people about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The three-day national competition is modeled after congressional hearings and they consist of oral presentations by the high school students before a panel of judges. The students' testimony is followed by a period of questioning by the simulated congressional committee. The judges probe students for their depth of understanding and ability to apply their constitutional knowledge. Findings suggest that national finalists are less cynical about politics and public officials and participate in politics at a higher rate than do their peers. Administered by the Center for Civic Education, the We the People program has provided curriculum materials at the upper elementary, middle, and high school levels for more than 26.5 million students nationwide. Members of Congress and our staffs enhance the program by discussing current constitutional issues with students and teachers and by participating in other educational activities. As a former high school history teacher, I am pleased to know that this program provides students with a working knowledge of our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the principles of our democratic government. The class from Wilson High School is currently conducting research and preparing for the upcoming national competition in Washington, D.C. I wish these young scholars the best of luck at We the People's national finals and I look forward to greeting them when they visit the Capitol. Mr. Speaker, please join me and my colleagues as we congratulate these young scholars from Wilson High School as they compete in this national civics competition.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a man who has embraced God's admonition to ``do unto others as you would have them do unto you'' as his personal motto. Samuel J. Tenenbaum has been honored as the United Way of the Midlands' Humanitarian of the Year, and I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition. Sam and I have been friends longer than I would like to remember. He has always been a loyal supporter and constant advisor, whether I seek his advice or not. He and his wife Inez are dear friends and true kindred spirits. So when the news images of the devastation in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina spurred me to call on Columbia Mayor Bob Coble to initiate an effort in South Carolina to welcome those displaced by this enormous tragedy, we both immediately asked Sam to lead the operation that became known as South Carolina--S.C.--Cares. Under Sam's leadership, S.C. Cares became the model for an effective response to a natural disaster. He assembled thousands of volunteers, every service provider imaginable, and public and private sector organizations to be housed at a community center to provide a one-stop- shop to meet each and every need of our guests from the gulf coast. Sam's adherence to the golden rule meant our guests would stay in hotel rooms not shelters. He provided them with dignity, sustenance, and many times his own personal emotional or financial support. Sam worked around the clock, not because he had to, but because he couldn't sleep until he knew the needs of all our guests were met. Sam was the heart and soul of S.C. Cares, and he embodies the enormity of the compassion this community has to offer. Although the S.C. Cares center closed its doors nearly 3 months ago, Sam is still involved with the gulf coast guests that remain in the Midlands. He is also taking the experience of S.C. Cares, and transforming it into an ongoing effort to address homelessness in South Carolina's capitol city. Sam knows that if our community could show such compassion for strangers from the gulf coast, we can extend the same graciousness to those who are homeless in our town. He is working with Mayor Coble to create an operation similar to the S.C. Cares center for Columbia's homeless that would provide social services, medical services, counseling, job training, and other programs in a one-stop-shop setting. Access to services and the support of a community can go a long way to transforming those who have been forgotten back into productive citizens. Sam's compassion is as limitless as his vision. After working 33 years in his family's business, Chatham Steel Corporation, Sam retired in 2000 and dedicated himself to his community. Currently he serves on 19 boards and commissions, which demonstrate the diversity of his passions. His love of his faith manifests in his membership of the governing boards of the Columbia Jewish Federation and the Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai B'Rith, Southeast Region. His devotion to animals is exemplified in his service as the development chair for Pet Project. His dedication to education is clear from his membership on the Allen University Presidential Advisory Board and Junior Achievement. His commitment to social causes runs the gamut from his chairmanship of the Alston Wilkes Foundation and membership on Habitat for Humanity's board. And these only touch the surface of his many current associations, and the 50 previous boards and commissions on which he has served. Sam's list of awards is just as impressive. Back in 1978, the Columbia Record recognized him as one of 10 for the Future. Obviously that prophecy has been fulfilled. He has won numerous awards for his contributions to the arts, for his philanthropy, and for his community service. Governor Dick Riley bestowed South Carolina's highest honor, the Order of the Palmetto, on Sam in 1985. More than two decades later, Sam is continuing his life-long dedication to his community and its people. Mr. Speaker, I invite you and my colleagues to join me in applauding Samuel Tenenbaum for his lifetime of service. As my father, a fundamentalist minister, once counseled me, ``the world would much rather see a sermon than to hear one.'' Sam has been providing a living example of the Golden Rule his entire life, and his recognition as the Humanitarian of the Year is just another affirmation of his leadership and compassion.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 678) and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a former professional colleague and dear personal friend Harriet G. Simpson. Mrs. Simpson is a dedicated educator and devoted community activist, who is being honored Sunday, December 18, 2005 by the Charleston, South Carolina community and her home church, Mt. Zion AME. I came to know Mrs. Simpson when I took my first job out of college as a Social Studies teacher in the Charleston, South Carolina public school system. She was one of the leaders in that school system who recognized my leadership potential at an early stage in my development. She became a mentor and one of my most ardent supporters. Throughout her life, Mrs. Simpson has dedicated herself to the betterment of her community, and has received numerous recognitions for her work. They include, Delta Woman of the Year by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Public Service Award from the Alpha Chi Pi Omega Sorority, and the Omega Service Award by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Also, Arabian Court No. 128 recognized Mrs. Simpson as Outstanding Female Community Worker, and she was a semi-finalist for the Certificate of Achievement as a Role Model from the National Council of Negro Women. She has also been recognized for her achievements by the South Carolina State Senate, and the Moja Arts Festival bestowed upon her an Award for Contribution to Education. Former Charleston Mayor Palmer Gilliard gave Mrs. Simpson the ``Key to the City,'' and Channel 5 Television Station inducted her into its Hall of Fame. Mrs. Simpson's dedication to her community has manifested itself through her love of education and her deep and abiding religious faith. She has been nominated for as Teacher of the Year at C.A. Brown High School, where I had the privilege of working with her for three years, and received the Human Relations Award from the South Carolina Education Association. She was named Woman of the Year by her home Church Mt. Zion AME in 1987 and 1991. The Charleston Area Women's Missionary Society also chose Mrs. Simpson for their Outstanding Service Award. Mrs. Simpson continues to make significant contributions to her community. She established the Harriet F. Simpson Scholarship Fund to help deserving students get a college education. She continues to support students while they are in college with financial help, letters of comfort, and small gifts, and helps them find jobs. She was a founding member of the Moja Arts Festival Committee, and has donated artifacts to the Avery Institute. Although she isn't a wealthy woman, Mrs. Simpson contributes generously to the National Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and to Alzheimer's research. And she continues a ministry of calling and writing the sick and shut-in from her church and those that have moved away from Charleston. Mrs. Simpson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Allen University, and a Masters degree in Education and Guidance from South Carolina State University, and did post-graduate work at North Carolina Central University. Mrs. Simpson has been a devoted wife for 55 years, and is the proud mother of two children. Her family is blessed with two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is a loving friend and caring sister, aunt and godmother. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in thanking Harriet G. Simpson for her lifetime of devotion to education and her community. She is a shining example of how one person can make a tremendous difference an entire community. I commend Mrs. Simpson for her significant contributions and thank her church family at Mt. Zion AME Church for recognizing her.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant who has served the residents of Marion, South Carolina ably for more than 30 years. Mayor Bobby Gerald is a product of Marion County, and is a lifelong resident of the community he serves. His tremendous impact on his hometown reflects his enduring commitment to the city and its people. Bobby Gerald has served a remarkable 20 years as Mayor of the City of Marion. His success in the political arena is no surprise given his talent as a businessman. At the tender age of 16, Bobby began selling cars for Neil Padgett Motors. After graduating from Marion High School, he joined the sales staff full time and went on to win every salesmanship award given by Ford Motor Company. His natural abilities and good business sense led him to become the General Manager and Executive Vice President of Earl Collins Ford Motor Company in 1967, just seven years after his high school graduation. In 1980, Bobby purchased the business, which he still runs successfully today. Yet being a successful businessman was not enough for Bobby Gerald. He also felt a duty to serve his community, and in April 1975 he was appointed to the Marion County Board of Commissioners. He first won elective office in January 1977 as a member of the Marion County Council, where he served as Vice Chairman. Two years later, Bobby became Chairman of Marion County Council, a capacity in which he served until June 1982. At that time he was appointed by the Marion County Delegation to serve on the South Carolina State Highway Commission. In June 1985, he resigned that appointment after being elected the Mayor of the City of Marion, a position he has held ever since. As Mayor of Marion, Bobby Gerald has led his city through difficult plant closures and the decline in tobacco farming. Yet his community has embraced its rich history and small town charm and become a tourist destination. Main Street has been revitalized with many family-owned antique shops and quaint boutiques, and a National Register Historic District has preserved and protected many of the homes, churches and other structures. I am proud to have worked with Bobby on the preservation of the old Marion High School, which is a crown jewel of this community. In addition to his elected and appointed positions, Bobby Gerald has also been very active in community organizations. He is a member of the Jaycees, Mullins Rotary Club, Civitans, the Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments, and the S.C. Automobile Dealers Association. He has held several leadership positions within these organizations at the local and state levels. He has won numerous awards and citations including the American Hometown Leadership Award in 1999, the Public Service Award in 1996, the Marion Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award in 1995, and the Historic Marion Revitalization Association Board of Directors Award in 1995. Bobby is in partnership with a lovely wife, Frances, and the couple has three children and three grandchildren. They are members of the Marion Baptist Church. Mr. Speaker, on November 21, 2005 I will sponsor a luncheon in Mayor Bobby Gerald's honor to say thanks for his many years of public service and personal friendship, and I ask you and my colleagues to join me in commending this longtime friend for his business acumen and dedicated commitment to public service. He is a natural leader, who has made extraordinary contributions to the City of Marion and the State of South Carolina.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a guiding light in Columbia, South Carolina that will be deeply missed. Charlie Mae Mays Harrison Cromartie passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2005, but her legacy will remain with us forever. Charlie Mae Cromartie was born in Greenwood County, South Carolina to John Henry and Myrtle Harrison Mays. She was the niece of renowned educator, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays. She was educated at Bettis Academy and earned her RN degree with a concentration in psychiatric nursing from South Carolina State Hospital and the Columbia Hospital School of Nursing. She served as Head Evening Nurse at the Columbia Hospital School from 1961 to 1970, and was the owner and manager of Cromartie Enterprises from 1977 to 1996. In addition to her very successful career, Mrs. Cromartie was also active in her community and church. She was the Mother of the Church at Bishops' Memorial A.M.E. Church, where she had been a member for more than 50 years. Mrs. Cromartie had served as the church Treasurer for more than 40 years and was a member of the Trustee Board, Missionary Society, and the Building Fund. In the community, Mrs. Cromartie served as a poll manager in Ward 9 at Allen-Benedict Court for many years. She had served as PTA President at Waverly Elementary, Carver Elementary, W.A. Perry Middle and C.A. Johnson High schools. She was also a school advocate for the Richland County Board of Education. Her other memberships included the March of Dimes, the League of Women Voters, and she was Past Illustrious Commandress of Daughters of Isis, Cairo Temple #125. Mrs. Cromartie had been recognized for her community work with a key to the City of Columbia and induction into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame in 2003. In 1987, Columbia Mayor Patton Adams chose Mrs. Cromartie as one of several Columbians to be sketched for a picture presented to Pope John Paul II during his visit to Columbia that now hangs in the Vatican. Mrs. Cromartie was married to E. W. Cromartie, Sr. for 43 years. The couple has two children, E. W. Cromartie, III and Ernestine Cromartie Moody, and four grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of a devoted wife, mother, Christian and community activist. Charlie Mae Cromartie made a lasting impression on the City of Columbia and all those who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a decorated war veteran and committed community activist. Lt. Colonel Albert B. Guess says his greatest ambition is ``the utilization of his resources, knowledge and experiences to promote the well being and welfare of others.'' I believe he has achieved this goal in every facet of his life. Albert B. Guess was born in Santee, South Carolina to farming parents. As a young man, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943, serving for 3 years until his discharge as a Corporal. Colonel Guess used the G.I. Bill to attend South Carolina State University, and joined the college's ROTC program. His early life on the farm led him to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, and upon graduation he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. After college, Colonel Guess taught agriculture, mathematics and science at Barr Street High School in Lancaster, South Carolina. At the same time, he served as the Director of the area veterans and adult farm program that taught hands-on farming practices and management. Colonel Guess was recalled to the Army in May 1951, where he served another 20 years. His military career took him to New Guinea, the Phillipine Islands, Japan, Korea, Alaska, and he served 2 tours in Vietnam. He earned many awards and decorations for meritorious actions and service including the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Colonel officially retired from active duty in June 1971 as a Lt. Colonel. After leaving the military, Colonel Guess returned to South Carolina and his wife's hometown of Marion. There he became very active in the community, and that is how I first met him. He served as President of the Marion County Branch of the NAACP, and was instrumental in negotiating the majority-minority single member districts for the Marion City Council and the Marion County Council. He also led numerous voter registration and voter participation drives. Colonel Guess has also been very active in Marion School District One. He has served as a hearing officer helping to represent the interest of parents and children in the district. He has been deeply involved in ensuring that the schools in the district are top quality, and was instrumental in the building of the new Marion High School. Colonel Guess served on the steering committee for a bond referendum to pay for the construction of a new intermediate school and additions to Easterling Primary and Johnakin Middle School. He has still found time to serve on the Marion County Economic Development Board, the Marion County United Way, and to direct the Marion-Dillon County Mental Retardation Program. Colonel Guess is currently the Chairman of the Marion County Red Cross. He and his wife, the former Reba General are members of St. Phillips United Methodist Church The couple has 2 children, Ronald Richardson of Marion and Rita James of Charlotte, North Carolina, and four grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, on November 21, 2005 I will sponsor a Luncheon in honor of Lt. Colonel Albert Guess and I ask you and my colleagues to join me in commending this longtime friend and mentor for exceeding his life's ambition to serve others. He has served his family, his community, and his country with extraordinary dedication, and has been a positive impact on countless lives along the way.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to pay tribute today to the extraordinary pastor of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church of Marion, South Carolina. For more than 40 years of dedicated service and compassionate leadership, Reverend Dr. Henry McGill, Jr. has served his parishioners and community with great respect and dignity. He has spent decades reaching out to those in need of strengthened faith and fellowship. Reverend McGill grew up the son of a deacon and quickly incorporated strong values and understanding of others in his everyday life. His education started in a one-room schoolhouse in Lake City, South Carolina. He went on from that meager beginning to achieve degrees in social studies and divinity at Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina. He heard and heeded the call to the ministry at an early age and focused his life on the teachings of peace and cooperation among all people. Reverend McGill's expertise on theology has also earned him positions among some of the most prestigious public service boards, as well as university and ministerial committees. He continues to be a devout advocate of the church in sharing his thoughts on fairness and finding the good in every person. Because of his widely-honored achievements in academia and religious education the Manhattan School of Theology in New York awarded him an honorary degree. A successful businessman, Reverend McGill owned the funeral home founded by his father-in-law, Henry L. Jackson, for many years. He has since passed the family business, Jackson & McGill Funeral Home Service, to the third generation of owners. I am pleased to join the parishioners of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church and so many other grateful members of the community in thanking Reverend McGill for always searching to find what is best for his church, his community and his state. He continues to respond to the needs of the less fortunate and putting education at the forefront of his message. His saying, ``Everyone is someone special,'' embodies his considerate and personal nature. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Reverend Dr. Henry McGill, Jr. He is special to the people of his church and community, and I wish him good luck and Godspeed.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the South Lynches Fire Department and to recognize their 50 years of service to the South Carolina counties of Florence and Williamsburg. Chartered as the Lake City Rural Fire Department on January 27, 1955, they started with only one tanker. Today, they have 19 vehicles with which a full time staff and 125 volunteers provide fire and rescue services to the 250 square mile area that encompasses the South Lynches Fire District. The original directors of the department in 1955 were S. Keels Brockington, Sr., H. Raymond Askins, Sr., Roy Rogers, J.P. Grimsley, L.W. McDaniel, Joe Tucker, and Walter Moody. Within 10 years, the department had completed a permanent home and secured a second tanker. The department changed its name in the middle 1970s to the Lower Florence County Fire Department as it had expanded its coverage beyond the Lake City area. In 1982, residents created the South Lynches Fire District establishing the area that the department currently services. The South Lynches Fire Department today operates out of six locations within the district. The original station, in Lake City, is still operational. Station 2 ``Coward'' was built in 1971. Station 3 ``Camp Branch'' was built in 1979, Station 4 ``Cades'' in 1979, Station 5 ``Leo-Camerontown'' in 1979, and Station 6 ``Scranton'' in 1990. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me today in honoring the South Lynches Fire Department as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. I thank each and every member of the Department for their service over the last 50 years and wish them great success and Godspeed in the future.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to pay tribute to two glowing flames that found one another at a young age, and have had the fortune of sharing their lives for the last 50 years. Ivory and Doris Murphy are two dear friends of my wife, Emily, and me. Our paths first crossed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1962. That chance meeting blossomed into a 43-year friendship that has grown stronger over time, despite the physical distance that has separated us since 1967. Ivory and Doris are a dynamic couple who serve as an inspiration to everyone whose lives they touch. Both Doris and Ivory grew up in a rural community near Wallace, North Carolina. They met in 1953, and two years later were married. Ivory enlisted in the Air Force and their life together became an extraordinary adventure, which Doris dropped out of Fayetteville State University to pursue. Shortly after coming to Charleston (South Carolina) Air Force Base, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Doris decided to return to Fayetteville State from which she received a degree in education while raising three children, Ivory, Jr., Andrea, and Octavius. Ivory's career took them to Air Force bases around the world in distant places like Greenland, Libya and Thailand. In 1977, Ivory retired from the Air Force, and the Murphy family settled in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Ivory began a second career with Allstate Insurance Co., and Doris devoted herself to a career in education working her way up from classroom teacher to principal. In 1994 Doris was named ``Assistant Principal of the Year'' while serving at Spring Creek Elementary School. Ivory and Doris' strong foundation in family and faith has sustained them through their 50-year marriage. The Murphy's golden anniversary is as much a celebration of the institution of marriage as it is this couple who set the standard for so many around them. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me today in honoring a couple that has persevered throughout a lifetime of joys and adversities. Their dignity, grace and love after 50 years together are an inspiration for all of us.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and honor that I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the late Sarah Mae Flemming Brown for her valiant contributions to the cause of civil and human rights. Her place in history has not been fully recognized, but her determination to seek equity and fair treatment in our society deserves to be illuminated. Ms. Flemming is an unsung hero whose pioneering quest to end segregation and racial hatred isn't told in our classrooms the way that so many other triumphant sagas are recounted, and in fact she didn't even tell the story to her children. But I want to recount her heroic stand, so it can from this point forward be included in the Congressional Record. On June 22, 1954, the 20-year old maid boarded a bus in much the same manner that Rosa Parks later did. She took the only empty seat, one she believed began the rows in which black riders were allowed to sit. The driver challenged her, and humiliated, she signaled to get off at the next stop. The bus driver blocked her attempt to exit through the front of the bus and punched her in the stomach as he ordered her out the rear door. She wasn't trying to prove a point, and certainly there was no way of knowing how her apparently simple gesture of defiance would lead to monumental changes in our Nation's fundamental values. Civil rights activists in Columbia, SC, heard of Ms. Flemming's ordeal and through Ms. Mojeska Simpkins enlisted Attorney Phillip Wittenberg, a white attorney in Columbia to represent her. Flemming v. South Carolina Electric and Gas was filed on July 21, 1954 in U.S. District Court. The allegation was that Ms. Flemming's 14th amendment right to equal protection had been violated. On February 16, 1955, Federal District Judge George Bell Timmerman, Sr. dismissed the case. Ms. Flemming appealed to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and her case was argued on June 21, 1955. The Fourth Circuit reversed Judge Timmerman on July 14,1955 and ``remanded the case for further proceedings.'' SCE&G appealed the decision of the Appeals Court. On April 23, 1956, the United States Supreme Court dismissed SCE&G's appeal, and on June 13, 1956, Judge Timmerman dismissed the case once again. Throughout this entire ordeal Ms. Flemming and Attorney Wittenberg endured intimidation and cross-burnings from the KKK. Things took their toll on Mr. Wittenberg and he decided not to handle a second appeal. Attorneys Matthew Perry and Lincoln Jenkins became the new lawyers of record for Ms. Flemming, and with their help and the help of NAACP lawyers the Fourth Circuit once again remanded the case to the trial court. While Ms. Flemming was fighting her battle in Columbia, SC, things began fermenting in other parts of the South. On December 1, 1955, a now famous seamstress, Rosa Parks, boarded a city bus in Montgomery, AL, in much the same fashion as Sarah Flemming did on June 22, 1954, some 18 months before. Few people are aware of Ms. Flemming's story. Timing and significant forces combined to keep her story from common knowledge. Judge George Bell Timmerman, Sr.'s son, George Bell Timmerman, Jr.-- an avowed segregationist--was elected Governor of South Carolina in November 1954, and conspired with the local newspaper, the State, to black out, or it might be more appropriate to say, white out civil rights activities taking place in South Carolina. Consequently, history records that the United States Supreme Court case involving Rosa Parks decided on November 13, 1956 desegregated public transportation, although the Court had made clear in its remand of Ms. Flemming's case five months earlier, what the law of the land was. Ms. Flemming went on to marry John Brown of Gaston County, N.C., and they had three children. She poured her heart and soul into Goodwill Baptist Church in Eastover, SC, and occasionally continued to work as a housekeeper. A heart attack brought on by diabetes took Mrs. Sarah Mae Flemming Brown just before her 60th birthday in 1993, a few months after I became the first African-American elected to this august body. Her death ended a seemingly simple life that had an extraordinary impact on this country. The story of Ms. Flemming reminds us of the social progress that has been made in one generation and the progress that continues to be made as a testament to the vision and courage of such an advocate of American freedom and equality. Her legal team, that fought with her all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, should also be commended for their insight and vision that would help lead to so many future legal triumphs toward ending government-imposed segregation. Ms. Flemming Brown's heroic actions should remind them and us that ``if a tree were to fall in a wood and nobody's there to hear it, does not mean it does not make a sound.'' I invite my colleagues to join me today in thanking Sarah Flemming Brown for providing the precedent that led to the desegregation of public transportation in these United States. We should also appreciate the great loyalty she and her family and friends have kept to South Carolina. I am humbled to share her story today for all to appreciate.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I come today to say to the people of South Carolina, most especially the people of Columbia and the midlands, how much I appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love and respect they have given to the victims of Katrina. I want to say a special thank you to Mayor Bob Coble of Columbia, businessman Sam Tannenbaum of Columbia, and the Columbia chamber president, Ike McLeese. These three dynamic gentlemen coordinated an effort in Columbia to receive evacuees that I would like to call a practical application of the Golden Rule. They decided that they would not put anyone in shelters. Anyone coming to Columbia would go to a home or to a private motel room. We have just been informed that we can expect more evacuees coming to Columbia tomorrow morning. I want to say those who have volunteered to man the One Stop Center to please continue to practice the Golden Rule.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to say thanks to the people of South Carolina, most especially those in the midlands area, for the tremendous outpouring of love and respect shown to victims of Katrina. And, I want to pay particular thanks to the Mayor of Columbia, Bob Coble; Columbia businessman, Sam Tenenbaum; Columbia Chamber of Commerce President, Ike McLeese; and the President of the University of South Carolina, Andrew Sorensen. This dynamic quartet decided that they would be guided from the beginning by the Golden Rule: ``Do unto others as we would have them do unto us.'' Consequently, they decided that nobody coming to Columbia would be placed in a shelter. Everybody would be put in motel rooms or in individual homes. We have just received word that we will be receiving additional evacuees tomorrow morning and I now call upon the people who will be manning our one-stop reception center to continue putting the Golden Rule into practice.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a friend and fellow South Carolinian, Ms. Elouise Ashford Coleman. After 35 years of tireless dedication to the students of South Carolina, Ms. Coleman is celebrating her retirement on Saturday with friends and family. Ms. Coleman received her early public school education in Fairfield County, graduating from McCrorey-Liston High School in 1966. She then matriculated at Vorhees College, receiving a Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics in 1970. Ms. Coleman began her educational career shortly thereafter. First, as a math teacher at Winnsboro High School in Fairfield County, and later, as a math teacher at Columbia High School, in Columbia, South Carolina. She taught at Columbia High for 19 years, during which time she received a Master's degree in Education from the University of South Carolina. Ms. Coleman left the classroom in 1994 upon accepting the position of Assistant Principal at Columbia High School. It is from this position that Ms. Coleman is retiring after serving as an administrator for 11 years. She will be sorely missed as she begins her well deserved retirement. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me today in honoring Ms. Elouise Ashford Coleman. She has given of her time and talents for 35 years as an educator in my home state. The contributions she has made to her community and to the educational system will leave lasting impressions on the lives she has touched. I wish her continued success and Godspeed.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Amy Surginer Ligon Northrop on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Born September 28, 1905 in Dixiana, South Carolina, Mrs. Northrop became a successful entrepreneur, owning several businesses, including a thriving beauty shop and a laundromat in Columbia, South Carolina. Mrs. Northrop, a pioneer among African American businesswomen, attended grade school in Dixiana and St. Ann Episcopal School in Cayce, South Carolina. She received her bachelor's degree from Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, where she later established a scholarship named after her and her late husband, John. With a boundless thirst for knowledge, she furthered her education at Tennessee State University, South Carolina State University, Almanella School of Beauty Culture, and the Manhattan Trade School in New York. Broadening her knowledge of life and mankind through travel, Mrs. Northrop was at various times, a resident of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. With her foresight and vision, she opened a beauty shop in Brooklyn, New York. She relocated to South Carolina in 1935 and opened Amy's Beauty Shop. In 1936, she became a member of the South Carolina State Cosmetology Association and the first clinic for the association was held at her business. When the Columbia Citywide Cosmetology Association was organized in 1938, Mrs. Northrop became one of the charter members. In 1941, she successfully negotiated affiliation with the National Beauty Culturists League for the Columbia association. She became a state organizer at a national beauticians' convention and organized beauticians throughout the State. Her interest in cosmetology led to extensive travel throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Mrs. Northrop has received numerous certificates and awards for her outstanding contributions to the field of cosmetology. In 1945, she received the great honor of being the first African American state inspector of beauty shops in South Carolina. A tireless civic leader, Mrs. Northrop founded Gamma Epsilon, a chapter of the Alpha Chi Pi Mega Sorority, whose first members were beauticians from Charleston, Sumter, Kingstree, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. As an entrepreneur, she was successful in securing the purchase of property on Clark Street in Columbia as a headquarters for the city's beauticians' association. She later helped to secure the land on Fontaine Road where the State Cosmetology Headquarters, the Margarette H. Miller Cosmetology Center, now stands. Mrs. Northrop is a life member of Mt. Pisgah African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dixiana, South Carolina, where she organized the Youth Church, the Pull Together Club, the National Council of Negro Women, and the NAACP. In 1997, she relocated to the Washington, DC area to live with her niece and nephew, Rose and Edgar Crook, and worships with them at Shiloh Baptist Church. She continues to maintain strong ties to South Carolina, however, and visits as often as she can. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in saluting Mrs. Amy Surginer Ligon, one of South Carolina's and America's finest citizens, as she celebrates her 100th birthday.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one who was an extraordinary force behind the recent designation of the Congaree Swamp National Monument as a National Park. When Martha Bogle came to this 22,200-acre National Parks Service site near Columbia, SC, in 1995, about 50,000 people each year visited the old-growth bottomland hardwood forest that was designated a national monument. Today that figure has tripled and it is due in large measure to the hard work and dedication of Ms. Bogle. Upon her arrival, Ms. Bogle realized the majesty of the towering pines and giant hardwoods, but access to the facility was so poor that few visitors were enjoying these amazing vistas. As the new superintendent, Ms. Bogle looked for a cost-effective way the community could join in making this hidden jewel more accessible. Her tenacity paid off when she convinced the South Carolina National Guard to partner with the Parks Service in building a new entrance road and visitors center. The result was an award-winning, 12,000 square foot visitors center with wonderful educational tools and roads and parking lots that could better accommodate visitors. This was quite an aaccomplishment for Ms. Bogle's first foray as a park superintendent. Still her vision for the site was not complete. With improved facilities and access, Ms. Bogle embarked upon a campaign to turn the Congaree Swamp National Monument into a national park. This was an even greater undertaking because only 52 of the National Parks Service's 388 sites were designated as national parks. Yet Ms. Bogle found allies in my former colleague, Senator Fritz Hollings, and myself, and we joined her and the many ``Friends of the Congaree'' in the fight to secure the designation. After some difficult days and lots of hard work on the part of Ms. Bogle and many others, on November 10, 2003, the President signed legislation that officially changed the Congaree Swamp National Monument into the Congaree National Park. In addition, we were able to include in the legislation, at Ms. Bogle's request, a 4,600-acre expansion of the site. As she departs, Ms. Bogle is working to acquire the additional property from willing sellers. Ms. Bogle's love of nature began in her childhood in a small Tennessee town. Upon her graduation from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a Bachelor's in Botany, Ms. Bogle wasted no time in securing a position with the National Parks Service. Her 26-year career has taken her to nine National Parks Service sites and one national wildlife refuge. Mr. Speaker, I ask you, and my colleagues to join me today in thanking Martha Bogle for her tremendous contributions to the Congaree National Park, and wish her well as she leaves South Carolina to become assistant superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway. No matter where she serves in the National Park Service, Ms. Bogle brings an infectious joy in her surroundings and a commitment that will insure our Nation's natural treasures are preserved and protected for many generations to come.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the outgoing Commanding General of the United States Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, SC, for his service to God and country, and his dedication to family and career. His leadership role at one of the military's largest training facilities has been greatly appreciated. BG Abraham Turner will be leaving his post this month to become Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Training in Fort Monroe, VA, and the men and women in uniform at Fort Jackson owe a great debt of gratitude to this model soldier. Since receiving his commission through the Reserve Officers Training Corps at South Carolina State University in 1976, Brigadier General Turner has earned some of the highest accolades of any Army officer. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Expert Infantry Badge. Brigadier General Turner previously served in numerous positions at Fort Bragg, Fort Benning and West Point, where he was a Regimental Tactical Officer. He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff, C3, Operations, Coalition Forces Land Component Command at Camp Doha, Kuwait. His numerous combat assignments have included a 1989 deployment in Operation Just Cause in Panama, a year-long deployment in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm that ended in 1991, and, most recently, a deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served as part of C3, Coalition Forces Land Component Command. Brigadier General Turner is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College. He earned a bachelor's degree in Music from South Carolina State University and a master's degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University. He and his wife Linda are the proud parents of three lovely children: April, Creighton and Jessica. Mr. Speaker, I invite you and my colleagues to join me today in honoring Brigadier General Turner, who embodies all the virtues of individual courage and sacrifice in defending global freedom for which the U.S. Army is so well known. I know he will continue to build and enviable legacy at Fort Monroe with the same fortitude and charisma that led him to such a successful tenure in his native South Carolina. I thank him for his service--at home and abroad. I am proud and we are fortunate to have him in the top ranks of our armed forces.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the residents of Lone Star, SC who are coming together on Friday, August 12, 2005 for the 90th annual Good Hope Picnic. This historic event began on the second Friday of August in 1915, and has continued on the same day every year since. The Good Hope Picnic was founded by black farmers in this Calhoun County town as a way to market their crops. It became a holiday for many black farm workers whose white employers gave them the day off to attend the picnic. Today, the Good Hope Picnic is a family reunion for many Lone Star residents who have moved away. Over the years, this once thriving community has lost its vibrancy and its jobs. There are few opportunities for children who grew up here, and most must leave to find work and a better quality of life for their families. Yet Lone Star remains their home, and families plan their annual vacations to come home for the Good Hope Picnic swelling the population of that small community by as many as 400-500 people on that day. I have spent a lot of time in Lone Star during my service in Congress. I am proud to have brought a new baseball field to the community, and am currently working on funding to build a new community center. Plans are moving forward on the Briggs-DeLaine-Pearson Connector that will bring new opportunities to this area in hopes that many of those who consider Lone Star home can reconnect with their families and once again find vibrancy in their native community. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in congratulating the members of the Good Hope Picnic Foundation, who are descendants of the picnic's original founders. They are continuing a proud tradition that reflects the heart and hope of the Lone Star community.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Colonel Robert A. Rowlette, Jr., Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers for the Louisville District. On July 29, 2005, after 26 years of distinguished and dedicated military service to our country, Colonel Rowlette will retire from his post as commander. I believe it is important to highlight the honors he has received and the assignments in which he has dutifully served. Born in Berea, Kentucky, Colonel Rowlette was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers upon graduation from the University of Kentucky in 1979. At the University of Kentucky he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He returned to the University of Kentucky to earn a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1990. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College. Colonel Rowland is registered as a Professional Engineer in the Commonwealths of Virginia and Kentucky. Colonel Rowlette has received many honors and awards for his service to our Country. His military honors include the Meritorious Service Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, The Army Commendation Medal, The Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the National Defense Service Medal. Prior to becoming the Army Corps of Engineers' Commander for the Louisville District, Colonel Rowlette's tour of duty included assignments in the continental United States and Hawaii. He has previously served as a project manager and assistant chief Army Programs in the Louisville District. Following his assignment to Louisville District he served with the 46th Battalion at Ft. Rucker, Alabama as a company commander and operations officer. Colonel Rowlette's next assignment was at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York where he served as an instructor and an Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences. Following his time at West Point attended the Command and General Staff College. Following graduation, he served as the Executive Officer for the 84th Engineer Battalion at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He next served as the Operations Officer for the 416th ENCOM FWD cell at Fort McPherson, GA. I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Colonel Rowlette when he arrived in Charleston, South Carolina to serve as Commander of the Charleston District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in my Congressional District. He followed his tenure in my home state, as the Engineer Colonel Assignments Officer with the U.S. Total Army Personnel Command and attended the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, Ontario. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in celebrating the 26-year career of Colonel Robert A. Rowlette, Jr. His leadership has been characterized by excellence and service. He has been a great asset to his profession and a role model for all of those who follow him in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. I wish him a very happy retirement and Godspeed.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, August 6th we will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the birth of the Atomic Age, widely celebrated as having begun when President Harry S Truman ordered the historic and fateful mission of the Enola Gay. But, another event took place on that day in and of itself that could have triggered the onset of this historic period, at least in the mind of Robert S. (Bobby) Reese, Jr., who was born on that day in Florence, South Carolina to ``Big Bobby'' and ``Gem'' Reese. Bobby worked here in Washington for more than 30 years representing the American Trucking Associations and the Altria Group. Many in this chamber have had the good fortune and pleasure to have shared much of that time with Bobby. During my tenure here, Bob has been a trusted advisor and personal friend. I, like many others in this august body, often partnered with Bobby on the golf course, and often shared with him the thrill of victory. Of course there were moments when Bobby and many of us experienced the agony of defeat. But I think that all of us will agree that he was always a reliable partner or tough competitor. And, at least with me, he never understood the phrase ``customer golf.'' Bobby retired about 2 years ago and he and his lovely wife, Peggy, moved back to our home State and are enjoying their retirement in the Dunes West golf course community near Mount Pleasant. Bobby and Peggy are also enjoying spending more time with their four adult children: Patty, Cynthia, Taylor and Michael and two grandchildren Tayson and Senna. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in wishing a happy and festive 60th birthday to Robert S. ``Bobby'' Reese, and our hopes that he, Peggy and all of the Reese family and friends will have a joyous occasion on August 6, 2005 and for many more years to come.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Reverend Donald E. Greene, Jr., on his tenth anniversary as the Pastor and visionary leader of Andrew Chapel Baptist Church in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. Not only has Reverend Greene's leadership resonated on Sunday mornings, but he has also pioneered movements that have increased his church's membership by more than 500 members in his first decade of service. Under his guiding hand, the church has expanded physically as well. The Andrew Chapel congregation currently worships in a new sanctuary on a 33-acre site on Five Chop Road. The building, in its fifth year of existence, serves the community at large and is a reminder of what can be achieved by a deep and abiding faith and a dedicated outreach to others. The church is truly a success story in that its members have worked to establish many beneficial programs and resources. One of its amazing successes is the Andrew Chapel Christian Academy which was established seven years ago. Under the direction of Reverend Greene, it has already quadrupled in enrollment and has inspired afterschool tutorial assistance for its students. Whether the need is for better materials in the classrooms or upgrading facilities in the old Andrew Chapel building, Reverend Greene and his church are dedicated to creating a house of worship that fits the needs of all people and attracts visitors and new members at the same time. Andrew Chapel Baptist Church is a blessing for the Four Holes community of Orangeburg. It is establishing a rich legacy as a parish on the move with many energetic and devoted individuals driving it toward a bright future. Reverend Greene has led this congregation with a firm foundation in faith and has engaged the fellowship to serve as spiritual leaders to others around them. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulations to Andrew Chapel Baptist Church and wishing them Godspeed as they continue to illuminate the virtues of moral leadership and community service. I wish the congregation many more decades of growth and sharing with Reverend Greene at the church's helm.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mrs. Janie Holloman Johnson, a native South Carolinian whose dedication to service for all God's children shines as an example to each of us. On July 13, 2005, she will celebrate her 100th birthday, and I believe it is important to highlight a few of the contributions she has made during her life as we commemorate her centennial birthday. Born in Timmonsville, South Carolina, Mrs. Johnson attended public schools in Darlington County where she had to walk four miles each way on a daily basis. An avid learner from an early age, she was one of a few students who had the capability to recite her ABC's forwards and backwards with great speed. As an example of her commitment to learning, at the age of 69, Mrs. Johnson went back to school to receive her high school diploma from Old Johnson High School in Timmonsville, South Carolina, taking night classes to achieve this long time goal. Mrs. Johnson has been a tireless worker in her community. After she received her diploma, she held classes in the community to teach others to read and dial a telephone. In addition, she served as a caretaker to disabled members of her family and to others in the community at large. Mrs. Johnson has been a longtime and active member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Timmonsville, South Carolina serving in many capacities including the church choir, the Sunday School Department, and the Missionary Society. Her roots in the church date back to her childhood, where she received religious training from her parents and the leaders of Center Baptist Church in Timmonsville where she worshipped while growing up. In addition to being a woman of faith, a woman dedicated to her community, and a woman who is a lifelong advocate of learning; Mrs. Johnson is a woman dedicated to family. She is the widow of the late Evander Johnson, Sr. to whom she was married for 65 years until his death. She is the mother of 6 children, 17 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, and 1 great-great-great grandchild. While their children were young, the family lived as sharecroppers and Mrs. Johnson handmade most of the clothes for her growing children. Once her children were grown, she became a cosmetologist and worked from her home. To this day, she is still active with volunteer work in her community. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and legacy of this venerable woman on her 100th birthday. She blazed a trail in her community through Christian service that continues to influence future generations. And she has demonstrated, with great fervor, her timeless commitment to serve the people of her community. I wish her a Happy Birthday and Godspeed.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Everett L. Dargan, an outstanding surgeon, a devoted husband and father, and an all-around good citizen of South Carolina. At the age of 15, Everett Dargan, a native of Columbia, won a scholarship to Morehouse College in Atlanta. He later transferred to the University of Buffalo in upstate New York where he earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 1949. Dargan credits the faculty and administration of Morehouse College, in particular then-Morehouse College President Benjamin E. Mays, Ph.D. and Harold Eugene Finley, Ph.D., for instilling a lifelong sense of academic discipline, the inspiration to dream that a career in medicine was possible for him, and a dedication to personal excellence. ``Dr. Finley put me into warp speed and opened up new worlds to me--embryology, anatomy and zoology. Seeing bacteria and red blood cells was like discovering new life forms on `Star Trek.' He was a taskmaster and insisted on perfection,'' Dargan recalls. ``But he also had a sense of humor. He was my mentor.'' Dargan contined his education at Howard University's College of Medicine where he earned his M.D. and also won First Prize in Medicine. After medical school, he completed his internship at Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, NY, and was later named chief resident surgeon at the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Dargan interrupted his specialty training to serve in the United States Air Force as a captain and commander of the 3910th USAF Hospital in Mildenhall/Lakenheath, England, during the Korean War. Later, he would continue his commitment to providing quality medical care to military veterans through his service to the Dorn Veterans Administration Medical Center in Columbia, SC. Dr. Dargan completed his training in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Boston City Hospital, achieving the post of chief resident surgeon, and became a thoracic surgical instructor at Boston University Medical Center in Massachusetts. He returned to New York and continued his commitment to academic medicine as a researcher and instructor through various appointments, including associate professor of Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, chief of surgery at Lincoln Hospital, and director of surgery at Sydenham Hospital. In keeping with his commitment to academic surgery as teacher, practitioner and researcher, he taught medical students and surgical residents for more than 12 years. Dargan expected perfection and taught his students what he learned from his mentor, Dr. Finley. At Lincoln Hospital, he met his future wife, a registered nurse and flight attendant at TWA, Carol Poyner. Dargan has published many surgical papers in leading national medical journals and has participated in preparing practicing surgeons for board certification. He has given presentations at national and international medical meetings. Dargan returned to South Carolina in 1978 and began a private practice in thoracic, vascular and general surgery in Columbia, sharing an office with the late Dr. Cyril O. Spann, who had urged him to come home. Two years later, Dargan and Dr. Gerald A. Wilson formed Midlands Surgical Associates, P.A., out of a shared sense of commitment to competent, compassionate, and appropriate patient care in South Carolina. The practice has grown to include Dr. Dennis A. Wilson. In 1979, Dr. Dargan joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina as a clinical associate professor of surgery, hoping to inspire a new generation of physicians to provide compassionate medical services to South Carolinians. Dr. Dargan is a founding member of Physician's Health Plan of South Carolina, now Carolina Care Plan, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a former chief of staff at Palmetto Health Richland. A life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, he is also a member of the Kappa Pi and Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor societies. The Dargans have two children, Jennifer Dargan and Catherine Dargan Phelps; a son-in-law, Peter Phelps; and two much- loved grandchildren, Addison Morgan Phelps. Dr. Dargan is being honored in his hometown next Thursday night and I ask you, my colleagues, to join me in congratulating him and commending the University of South Carolina for helping all Columbians recognize Dr. Dargan's contributions by establishing a scholarship at its medical school in his name.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Georgetown County, South Carolina, and its efforts to make healthcare services accessible to its rural population. Several years ago, Georgetown County conceived the idea of turning a former schoolhouse--purchased for just one dollar--into an affordable and accessible healthcare facility for residents who previously had to travel more than a half-hour to reach needed wellness resources. This center is critical, since more than 15 percent of citizens in the area do not have transportation, 56 percent live below 200 percent of the poverty level, and the community is not served by public transit. I am extremely pleaded to announce the completion of the Choppee Regional Resource Center, a medical ``One Stop Shop,'' providing the first step towards an integrated, holistic healthcare delivery system for some of South Carolina's most underserved residents. Residents now have access to medical care, drug and alcohol counseling, mental health services, children's and seniors' services, and adult education opportunities. This center is important to me because it brings together key players from across the state to make a difference in the individual lives of those who too often are not reached by broader ,efforts. It is theseup.derserved people who each of us is sent here to help in any and every way we can. Georgetown County continues to develop the Choppee facilities and is now implementing a second phase of the project: the creation of a Family Wellness Center. Together, these resources will provide comprehensive healthcare, vocational, and support services to benefit the county's rural residents. Mr. Speaker, please join me as I commend the Georgetown County Council, the Administrator, School District, an4 all those individuals and groups who have been so personally involved in making this center a reality. Without your help, the citizens of Choppee would still be forced to travel great distances, at great expense and effort for the day-to-day services they need to live healthy, productive lives.