Jim Clyburn

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Kelly Ritter of Darlington, South Carolina, on the fiftieth anniversary of his involvement in the tobacco business. Mr. Ritter is a well-known figure in the South Carolina tobacco community, and the State has greatly benefitted from his commitment to improving both the quality of our fields and the well-being of the persons whose lives revolve around tobacco crops. Originally from North Carolina, Mr. Ritter attended North Carolina State University. He entered the United States Army Corps following college, and joined the troops headed to fight in World War II. Just as he was finishing his last bombing missions in Germany, Mr. Ritter was shot down in his plane. He was captured by the Germans and held as a Prisoner of War for 485 days. After the war, Mr. Ritter moved from Lumberton, North Carolina, to Darlington, South Carolina. He became very involved in the local community, serving as an elder in the Presbyterian Church in Darlington, where he is still a Member. President of the South Carolina Tobacco Warehouse Association, Mr. Ritter acted as a liaison between tobacco companies and farmers, and he worked diligently to improve the tobacco industry and help those involved in it. He has also served on a number of other federal and state tobacco committees. In addition to his demonstrated commitment to the tobacco industry, Mr. Ritter is also a dedicated husband and father. He has been married to the former Bess Stallings for 52 years. Together, they have raised four children: Kelly, Jr., William Keith, Eliza, and Susan. Mr. Ritter is well-known in the Darlington area because of his many years of service from the dual perspectives of farmer and tobacco warehouse agent. he has supported his field and his community in numerous capacities with persistence and hard work. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Kelly Ritter, Sr., on the fiftieth anniversary of his involvement in the tobacco business in Darlington County, South Carolina.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to John Ivory and Dorothy Mae Smith Witherspoon as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. The Witherspoons have lived in Sumter County for 48 years and have raised an amazing family. Mr. Witherspoon was born in Manning, South Carolina and attended Clarendon County Schools. He is the owner of John Witherspoon Carpentry/Cabinet Works Company and has been a master carpenter and cabinet maker for over 50 years. Mrs. Witherspoon was born in Summerton, South Carolina and graduated from Lincoln High School in Sumter, South Carolina. She is retired from the Campbell Soup Company but remains active in the community where she is active in School District #17's PTA, and is a member of the Christian Women's Association of Sumter and the South Sumter Resource Center Senior's Club. Mr. and Mrs. Witherspoon are active members of the St. John Baptist Church. Mr. Witherspoon has been a Deacon for over 45 years and served as Chairman of the Deacon Board for 2 years. He served as Sunday School Superintendent for over 40 years, Chairperson of the Cemetery Committee, and a member of the Senior Choir for over 48 years. Mrs. Witherspoon is a Deaconess, she has been President of the Missionary Auxiliary for over 10 years and is a member and secretary of the St. John Baptist Church Gospel Choir. They are also members of the Black River Missionary Baptist Association. Mrs. Witherspoon serves as President of the Deacon and Minister's Wives Alliance and is a Board Member of the Women's Missionary Auxiliary. Mrs. Witherspoon is Chairman of the Sunday School Convention's Board and Treasurer of the Deacons and Minister's Wives Alliance. Both John and Dorothy are 1997 graduates of the South Carolina Baptist Congress of Christian Education Teacher Certification program. The Witherspoons have four children, twelve grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. They have remained active in their community throughout their marriage. Their dedication to their family and community are commendable. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me today in honoring Mr. and Mrs. Witherspoon as they celebrate their 50th year of marriage.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Right Reverend Zedekiah Lazette Grady of Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Grady is a pillar of the community who has served his church and family tirelessly. Bishop Grady has served the African Methodist Episcopal Church well over forty years as a distinguished pastor, capable administrator, civic organizer, ecumenical leader, social reformer, teacher, presiding elder and a Christian gentleman. He served as pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Laurens, South Carolina; Walnut Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church in Ware Shoals, South Carolina; Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Anderson, South Carolina; Rocky River African Methodist Episcopal Church in Antreville, South Carolina; St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church in Georgetown, South Carolina; and Morris Brown African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. In addition to the above pastorates, Bishop Grady served as the Presiding Elder of the historically rich Edisto District of the Seventh Episcopal District South Carolina Conference. Under his leadership, membership in the District increased ten percent a year and the number of pastoral charges increased from 24 to 35. In 1992, Bishop Grady was elected the 111th Bishop of African Methodist Episcopal Church and was assigned to the Sixteenth Episcopal District, which included work around the world. In 1996, he was assigned to the Ninth Episcopal District headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Bishop Grady's civic and community service has also been extensive. He was a key negotiator in the hospital and garbage worker strikes of the late 1960s in Charleston, South Carolina. He has served as Chairman and Vice-President of the South Carolina Juvenile Parole Board and was a member of the Charleston Community Race Relations Committee and the Charleston County Housing Authority. He is a member and past president of the A.M.E. Ministerial Alliance and Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and has been a delegate to the World Methodist Conferences four times. Bishop Grady is married to the former Carrie Etta Robertson of Winnesboro, South Carolina. They have four children and two grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me today in honoring the Right Reverend Zedekiah Lazette Grady for his outstanding work as a devoted minister and community leader. During his life, he has been a role model of commitment to the church and his family.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good friend Luther H. Battiste, III, as he retires from the City Council of Columbia, South Carolina. In 1983 he was elected to represent the newly created City Council District One. During his 15 years on the Council, he was re-elected three times and served two terms as Mayor Pro Tempore. Mr. Battiste is one of the first two African Americans to serve on the Columbia City Council. During his tenure, he spearheaded the effort to acquire and renovate Eau Claire Town Hall, strongly supported the annexation of the Greenview, Fairwold and Belvedere communities, and initiated the idea for the establishment of public housing on Arsenal Hill, that project has become a national model for quality and innovation. He developed the concept of utilizing the park system for music concerts, chaired the committee that produced the implementation of the Congaree Vista Zoning Overlay, and devised the policy banning City of Columbia investments in South Africa. He also co-sponsored the establishment of the first City of Columbia Minority Business Enterprise Program, strongly opposed the proliferation of community care homes and cellular towers and strongly advocated the preservation of city neighborhoods and the establishment of programs to stimulate middle income housing. He has been praised by many in his community, and described as ``one of the most articulate and thoughtful members of [the] Council.'' He leaves behind a legacy in city neighborhoods, housing, cultural enhancement, downtown revitalization, and equal access and opportunities. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join with me in wishing my very good friend Luther J. Battiste, III, well, as he leaves the Columbia city council.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend Frederick C. Jones, Sr. as he is retiring from state government. He most recently was the Project Supervisor of Vocational Rehabilitation Services at South Carolina State Hospital. His duties included coordinating and implementing Vocational Rehabilitation services for seriously mentally ill patients within inpatient and community based mental health programs. He has been involved in Vocational Rehabilitation for much of his career, along with work with juveniles. Mr. Jones is a life member of National Rehabilitation Association, a member of Professional Staff Association, SCVR, a member of the Action Council for Cross Cultural Studies, chairman of the Membership Committee of Capital City Club, and a member of St. John Baptist Church, in Hopkins South Carolina. He is best known to Columbians and South Carolinians as the manager of the ``Friends Band'' and for the musical accompanyment of his lovely wife Bunny. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join with me in wishing my friend Frederick C. Jones, Sr. a fulfilling retirement.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks. Their Society is about to hold its 13th International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension in Blacks, and I believe it is timely to recognize their efforts to publicize a disease that has disproportionately affected minority populations. The International Society on Hypertension in Blacks encourages increased medical research efforts, supports hypertension awareness programs targeted to minority communities, and lends assistance to put an end to the alarming statistics that show the greater prevalence of severe hypertension in Africa Americans. The International Society works to promote treatment for all. Hypertension affects one out of three African Americans compared to one out of four people in the general population. One of the challenges to prevention or control is to adequately address the physiologic, epidemiologic and genetic differences to develop strategies appropriate for each population. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me today in honoring the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks for their efforts to initiate such research forums at their annual conference and their work to spread information to community members.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Robert Edward Bates, Jr. and Stanley K. Williams who will be honored as Men of the Year by the Shiloh Baptist Church of Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 21, 1998. It has been my privilege to have known Robert Bates for many years. He has been a member of Shiloh Baptist Church since his youth. He is the son of the late Deacon and Mrs. Robert E. Bates, Sr. He was a member of the Fund-raising Committee for the Henry C. Gregory, III Family Life Center and currently serves as Chairman of the Family Life Center Foundation Board. Active in the civil rights movement, Mr. Bates worked as an aide to Senator Edward Kennedy early in his career and went on to a successful career with Mobil Oil Company. He was one of the first African Americans to represent a major company on legislative matters on Capitol Hill. While secure in his own position, he established the Second Wednesdays Group, an organization to enhance opportunities for African Americans in the lobbying arena. In addition, Mr. Bates has been a strong supporter of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He is the father of three--Dawn, Hillman and Brandon. After joining Shiloh nearly two decades ago, Stanley Williams immersed himself in church activities. Today, he serves as Vice President of the Brotherhood of Shiloh Men. He has been a Sunday School teacher in the Youth Department and served as an Assistant Superintendent; Chairman of the Men's Day Committee; and, Co-chaired the Children's Day Committee. He was recently appointed by the Pastor to Co-Chair the Victory Through Faith Campaign Committee. Mr. Williams currently works at the U.S. Department of Labor where he serves as the Director of Veterans' Employment and Training. He recently was recognized by the Assistant Secretary of Labor for his outstanding knowledge and dedication in his field. He is married to Judy C. Williams and is the father of two children, Lanita and Malek. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Father's Day across the country this Sunday, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in saluting these two outstanding fathers--Robert Edward Bates, Jr. and Stanley K. Williams today for their dedication to the Shiloh Baptist Church, their families, and to the community.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, as we enter the month of June in which we celebrate Father's Day, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Daniel Boone Farnsworth of Greenville, South Carolina, a pillar of the community who served his church and family tirelessly. Mr. Farnsworth died on August 24, 1994 but his three daughters continue to celebrate his life each Father's Day. Mr. Farnsworth moved to Greenville in 1914 with his family. He gained his experience in the furniture building from his father, a furniture merchant. He worked in the furniture business for 77 years of his life, selling from a number of locations and operating a store in Gastonia, N.C. for 11 years. After his retirement, he continued to work with his sister at the Greenville Furniture Exchange helping customers and sharing stories of the past for over two decades. He felt, ``the best thing about working . . . is working with people, I love people, I love people and always have.'' Mr. Farnsworth was very devoted to his family. He had two sons from his first marriage in 1914 to Lizzie Farnsworth (deceased), and three daughters from his second marriage to Betty Farnsworth (deceased). At the time of his death, he was survived by a son, Jack F. Farnsworth, and his three daughters, Nellie Elizabeth Farnsworth, Emma Nance Farnsworth and Julianne Farnsworth (Mrs. Douglass A.) Snyder. He had four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two great-great- grandchildren. Also a devout church member, in October 1992, Mr. Farnsworth was recognized and honored by Central Baptist Church as the oldest deacon in the church and over sixty years of service. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me today in honoring Daniel Boone Farnsworth for his outstanding work as a devoted father and community member. During his life, he was a role model of commitment to community service and parenting, and he will be greatly missed by his three daughters on Father's Day this year.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Herbert and Sally Boykin of Rembert, South Carolina. Mr. Boykin worked first as a janitor and then as a custodial supervisor in the Sumter County schools. He also served as a Deacon for more than forty years at Union Baptist Church and recently retired as a Chairman of the Deacon Board. Mr. Boykin is also a Mason. Mrs. Boykin returned to school after having five children to continue her education at Morris College where she became a certified classroom teacher. She taught in Kershaw County and the City of Sumter for more than thirty years. Mrs. Boykin is still an active member of the Deaconess Board and the National Council of Negro Women. Mr. & Mrs. Boykin were married on July 11, 1948. After ten years of marriage, the couple had five children. The Boykins worked hard to provide a college education for all five of their children. They remain active members of Union Baptist Church, where their children were baptized. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in honoring Herbert and Sally Boykin, as they celebrate their Golden Anniversary.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. William Lloyd Birch of the Sixth Congressional District of South Carolina. Dr. Birch has taught at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina, since he moved to the Palmetto State in 1971. It is on the occasion of his retirement that I pay tribute to his 27 years of tireless involvement in the community surrounding the Pee Dee area of South Carolina. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Birch received his B.A. at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. He received a Th.B. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1955. From 1949-1960 Dr. Birch conducted summer youth revivals throughout the state for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. He was a Mission Pastor and served as Interim Pastor for First Baptist Church in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. From there, he was pastor at Shakertown Baptist in Harrodsburg, Visalia Baptist in Covington, Wildwood Baptist in Ashland, and Chevy Chase Baptist in Lexington. He served on the Board of Directors for The Western Recorder, the Kentucky Baptist state paper, and was an Executive Board Member of the Kentucky Baptist Convention from 1964-1967. He was also on the Board of Directors of the Christian Life Committee. In 1969, Dr. Birch received an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Kentucky. He received his Ph.D. in 1971. Dr. Birch began his distinguished teaching career at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky as a part-time instructor and then Assistant Professor. Dr. Birch moved to the Sixth Congressional District of South Carolina in 1971 and began as an Associate Professor of Sociology at FMU. In 1972, he established the Sociology major and Department of Sociology. He served as Chairman of the department for 23 years. From his leadership during the founding of the Sociology department, the Sociology major was the third most popular major on campus for many years. Through 1994, it remained in the top 5 largest majors of bachelor level graduates. Since the University opened, 35% of all graduates have taken Dr. Birch's Courtship and Marriage course, a course not required by any major. During his stint at FMU, Dr. Birch has also made professional presentations and published articles or book reviews a total of 45 times. In addition, he has made an average of one presentation per month during his tenure to workshops, civic clubs, hospitals, hospices and Family Life Conferences for a total of 297 presentations. Dr. Birch has received numerous awards during his tenure at FMU. He was awarded the Distinguished Professor Award in 1977-1978 and held the Joan and Garry Gladstone Chair in Sociology since 1989. He is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta Honorary Society and the Pi Gamma Mu Honorary Society. Among his professional affiliations are the American Sociological Association, Southern Sociological Society, Association for the Sociology of Religion, and the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. He was a charter member and served as Vice President of the South Carolina Sociological Society and is a Legacy Council member of the National Council on Family Relations. He also served on the Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Legislative Action Committee of the Southeastern Council on Family Relations. He was President and served on the Executive Committee of the South Carolina Council on Family Relations, is a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, and served as Vice President of the South Carolina Association Marriage and Family Therapy. Aside from his professional organizations related to Sociology, Dr. Birch is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He remains in private practice at Family Therapy Associates in Florence where he has practiced since 1974. Dr. Birch has been a therapist at the Pastoral Counseling Service in Florence, a Consultant to the S.C. Department of Youth Services, and a Consultant on Human Sexuality for the National Council of Churches Task Force on Developmental Disabilities. He has also served as a member of the Ethics Committee of McLeod Regional Medical Center. Dr. Birch's first professional appointment came from Governor West in 1973. He was appointed to the S.C. Council for the Developmentally Disabled and served as the Chairman of the Committee on Deinstitutionalization and Institutionalization Reform. He also co- authored South Carolina's first plan for deinstitutionalization. Governor Campbell next appointed Dr. Birch to the S.C. Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Associate Counselors, and Marital and Family Therapists. He was re-appointed to the S.C. Board by Governor Beasley and will serve as Vice President through 2001. He is also Chairman of the Marriage and Family Therapy Standards Committee that reviews the credentials of all applicants seeking licensing as marriage and family therapist in South Carolina. Dr. Birch has also been a recent S.C. delegate to the Annual Meeting of the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards. Although he is retiring from FMU, Dr. Birch will continue to impact the lives of many of my constituents through his service as interim pastor at South Carolina's Southern Baptist Churches. During the past 27 years, he has served as interim pastor 31 times, delivered 2,275 sermons. For seven of 27 years, he has filled a pulpit every Sunday. Dr. Birch has also conducted over 100 Family Life Conferences for Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Catholic churches. Throughout his 27 years in South Carolina, Dr. Birch has served, and continues to serve, his State and community tirelessly. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in extending best wishes to him for a fulfilling retirement.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Deborah R. Johnson of Columbia, South Carolina, a Richland School District One's 1998-1999 Teacher of the Year Finalist. Aside from being a recent finalist for the district's top teaching honor, Ms. Johnson received her school's top honor by being named Virginia Pack Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She is also a Richland School District One Honor Roll Teacher of the Year. Ms. Johnson received most of her formal education in the Sixth Congressional District, which I represent. She graduated from Burke High School in Charleston, South Carolina, and South Carolina State College, now South Carolina State University, in Orangeburg. She went on to receive her Masters in Education and Computer Technology from the University of Charleston, S.C. Ms. Johnson began her distinguished teaching career in the Charleston County public schools system. She was once Teacher of the Month and twice the Distinguished Reading Teacher in the district. She was also Charleston County School District's Teacher of the Year for two consecutive years. During the 1994-1995 school year Ms. Johnson received both the President's Award and an Outstanding Achievement Award for post-secondary level teaching. Aside from having an impact on the lives of many students, Ms. Johnson remains very active in her community. She is often a poll manager for the election commission, a tutor for ``Community Helpers,'' a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. As a former teacher in the school district where Ms. Johnson began teaching, I take great pleasure in her many accomplishments. With a new millennium in sight, excellent teachers should be our nation's most prized possessions, for it is through their efforts the quality of our leaders of tomorrow will be determined. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me today in honoring Deborah R. Johnson for her outstanding work as a role model and teacher.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Sumter, South Carolina. This Church has provided a means of worship to the Sumter community for one hundred and fifty years, an anniversary which underscores the important role the Church plays in the Sumter community. It was my great honor to worship with the congregation March 15th as they celebrated this momentous occasion. The precise date of the Church's construction is unknown. The building was originally erected in the first half of the nineteenth century, but Quinn Chapel African Methodist Church was burned to the ground a few years ago later when the adjacent school building caught fire. In the absence of a physical church building, members used a ``bush shed'' for worship. Rebuilt in 1864, the Church stood for the next 98 years until 1962. A new sanctuary was erected in 1964 under the leadership of the Reverend B.J. Johnson, and in 1993, the Memorial Hall was added under Reverend H.H. Felix. Family and friends of the Church provided leadership and funds for the initial building phase, and the Hall was dedicated in September of 1993. In January 1996, renovation of the sanctuary and bathroom facilities was completed under Reverend F.J. Gadson, whose vision of an enlarged sanctuary and new educational building was realized in October of 1996. Throughout the physical changes, Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church has held true to its mission to be an outreach ministry that provides support and relief to the disheartened, disadvantaged, and disenfranchised. The Church continues to serve the Sumter community by being a loving ambassador for Christ. I ask that Congress join me in showing true appreciation for Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church as it continues to play such an important role in South Carolina, guiding Christian men, women, and children in their daily lives. The Sumter community is indebted to the Church, as the gift of love is difficult to repay. I congratulate the Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church as it reaches a landmark One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2400. I want to begin by thanking my Chairman, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), and my ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for their leadership and tenacity in bringing this bill to the floor today. The Building Efficient Surface Transportation and Equity Act of 1998 is desperately needed and a long time and coming. Mr. Chairman, I suggest there is not a single Member of this House who cannot appreciate the tremendous needs of this Nation's infrastructure. I know there are Members who will vote against this measure, and I fully appreciate the sincerity of their convictions. But I believe they are being a wee bit shortsighted. Transportation is the engine driving this Nation's economy. To the extent transportation fails, our economy fails. We cannot ignore these needs any longer. Mr. Chairman, this bill is important for other reasons as well. There are areas of this country which have unique needs, and this bill addresses those needs. There are areas for which, for whatever reason, have historically been shortchanged in the distribution of trust fund revenue. H.R. 2400 brings fairness to this process, and I strongly support it. Mr. Chairman, we have heard a lot of rhetoric and histrionics about demonstration projects. A great many headlines of today highlight this frenzy. But I take a different view. I came to Washington to represent the people of South Carolina's Sixth District. I was eager to request funding for projects my district needs. But I resent the implication from anyone who thinks otherwise. My requests represent the views of the local officials of the towns and communities I represent. Finally, Mr. Chairman, I want to address the provision of this bill which provides for opportunity for owners of small businesses to participate in the American dream. The DBE program is not a set-aside program, nor is it a quota. It sets reasonable goals for full participation in a highly competitive process, and I believe this bill, with all it contains, deserves passage.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of May 23, 1998 as ``Joe Sanders Day'' in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Joseph C. Sanders is a successful businessman and true humanitarian. Born in the Berkeley County town of Cross, he moved to Moncks Corner at a very early age where he attended the public schools. In 1958, ``Joe Cleve,'' as he is affectionately known, graduated from Berkeley Training High School and matriculated at South Carolina State College (State) in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Upon graduating from State in 1962 he was drafted into the United States Army and served for two years. Joe completed his military assignment in Germany, and upon returning to the United States moved to New York City in 1964 to pursue his goal of ``acquiring a piece of the American dream.'' He worked as a recreational leader with the Children's Aid Society, which inspired him to pursue a Master's Degree in Urban Education at Brooklyn College. it was in graduate school that Joseph Sanders developed an interest in the business sector and seized an opportunity to work as an insurance agent for the New York Insurance Company. Mr. Sander's employment with New York Life Insurance Company heightened his entrepreneurial interests, and in 1972, Mr. Sanders and a partner, Charles Baylor, founded BaySan Holding Corporation. Mr. Sanders attributes his success and business awareness to his mother, Eliza, and lots of hard work. He credits Mrs. Addie W. Rivers, a high school teacher, Coach Ollie C. Dawson, and the late H.N. Vincent, both of South Carolina State College as professionals and friends who contributed greatly to his social, personal, and educational growth. Sanders stated, ``Their interest in my personal growth created a desire within me to help others.'' His commitment to helping others is evident in the $100,000 scholarships he established at Allen University, Voorhees College, Claflin College, and South Carolina State, all located in the Sixth Congressional District of South Carolina which I proudly represent in this body. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the ``Dean H.N. Vincent Scholarship Fund'' to honor and perpetuate the memory of Dean Vincent of South Carolina State College. Joseph Sanders has been granted innumerable awards and citations highlighting his contributions to and concern for ``Excellence in Education'' at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Allen University conferred upon Sanders a Doctorate of Humane Letters at its 116th Commencement ceremony on May 10, 1986. As a Certified Property Manager, President of Vis-Chet Holding Limited of Brooklyn, NY; and avid golfer, Joseph Sanders is presently developing an eighteen-hole golf course on a 227-acre tract of land he owns near Santee, South Carolina. With knowledge under his belt and a proven track record, Sanders spends a great deal of time traveling and enjoying the fruits of his labor. Sanders is a member of several business organizations and is a life member and Basileus of Iota Xi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is a Golden Heritage Life member of the NAACP and a 32nd degree Prince Hall Mason. Sanders resides in Manhattan, New York and has two daughters, Vista and Conchetta, one son, Michael, and five grandchildren. Joe and I met on State's campus where we forged a friendship which we continue to enjoy today. Please join me Mr. Speaker in saluting the humanitarian efforts of Mr. Joseph C. ``Joe Cleve'' Sanders, and thanking the people of Moncks Corner, South Carolina for declaring the 23rd day of May, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Eight ``Joe Sanders Day.''

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ferdinand and Carrie Hatfield Pearson of Clarendon County, South Carolina, on the occasion of their fiftieth wedding anniversary. The Pearsons were married on February 28, 1948, in Manning, South Carolina. Their marriage is the kind we all wish to experience, one which has trials and tribulations throughout the years and which grows even stronger and more committed with each one. The Pearson's marriage has produced six children: Jerome Pearson (deceased), Alfreda Pearson, Grace Pearson Waters, Cynthia Pearson Felder, Ferdinand Pearson, Jr., and Timothy Pearson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are dedicated members of their community. Ferdinand Pearson is a very active and senior member in the political arena of Clarendon County, as well as with the National Association of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Legion Post. Mr. Pearson has proven to be a model citizen both at home and abroad. Carrie Hatfield Pearson is a senior member of the Eastern Stars, as well as the Jordan Community Club and several churches. Her priorities have indicated a wealth of inner strength and charisma. Ms. Pearson puts God first, and she supports her family's needs and hopes as she helps to guide them through the phases of life. She is always attentive to the ways in which the community can be improved, and she encourages the youth to strive for excellence and high self-esteem. Please join me in warmly wishing Mr. and Mrs. Pearson a very happy fiftieth anniversary, and in congratulating them for the inspiring example which they set for all of us

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the newest member of baseball's Hall of Fame, a fellow South Carolinian, and most importantly, a true pioneer. I rise today to pay tribute to Larry Doby. As of Tuesday, Doby became the first native South Carolinian to be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame. While his athletic accomplishments alone are an incredible honor, Doby should be honored as a pioneer in one of America's favorite professional sports and an ambassador of the baseball community. Doby grew up in Camden, South Carolina, my father's hometown, where he learned to play stickball in the streets and eventually organized baseball on local diamonds. He attended Jackson School, the public school for black children, and later Mather Academy, my high school alma mater. Doby lived in South Carolina until his mid-teens when he went to New Jersey with his mother. There, he attended the integrated Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, the city in which I was married. From 1942 to 1943 and 1946 to 1947, Doby played for the Newark Eagles of the Negro League. When he signed a contract in 1947 to play with the Cleveland Indians, he became the American League's first black player. He also twice led the American League in home runs, beating out the famed Mickey Mantle. Doby played with the Indians from 1947 until 1955 when he went to the White Sox for the 1956 and 1957 seasons. He returned to the Indians for 1958 and went on to play for Chicago and Detroit until 1959 when he retired. While the late Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the National League in a much-chronicled story, only 11 weeks later Doby followed suit in the American League to a more quiet narrative. Through much of his career, Doby was an overlooked pioneer who endured the same racial taunts Robinson had from teammates, fans and managers. Pitcher Lou Brissie, another native South Carolinian, played both with and against Doby in the years following World War II. He remarked that Doby was ``really an extraordinary man, in many ways. I have a great deal of respect for him. He always carried himself with dignity.'' While I congratulate the athlete who topped the American League in 1954 with 32 homers and 126 RBIs, it is the man Brissie describes that I pay tribute to today. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in honoring Larry Doby, the newest member of the baseball Hall of Fame, a fine South Carolinian, and a model American.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dent Middle School for being honored with the Palmetto's Finest award. This award is giving annually to four schools in my home State of South Carolina for excellence in an educational facility. It is sponsored by the Carolina First bank and the S.C. Association of School Administrators. As a former high school history teacher, I congratulate them with heartfelt pride for the work that is being done at Dent Middle School. Under the leadership of principal Cheryl Washington, a personal friend, Dent was chosen based on factors including how they teach, what classes they offer and how well the school interacts with parents and the local community. Site visits are also made by the judges, who comprise a team of educators representing schools that have won the award previously. Schools may win this prestigious award only once. Dent Middle School, located in the Midlands area of the Sixth Congress District, is a unique school that represents the diverse population of my district very well. Dent has not only an economically, but also racially, diverse student body of 1,200. Students come from affluent suburban areas, lower-income apartment communities and nearby Fort Jackson. Students also come from across Richland District 2 for a magnet program housed at Dent. The magnet program, The Learning Cooperative, offers a longer school day, smaller teacher to student ratios, and challenging subjects for approximately 240 students from across the school district. Aside from the magnet program, Dent offers an after-school tutoring program, study sessions and help with homework for students who need extra assistance. They also offer a program called ALERTS who offer special challenges for academically talented students. Aside from being chosen as one of the Palmetto's Finest, Dent Middle School is a finalist for the Blue Ribbon School award given by the U.S. Department of Education. The other schools in South Carolina chosen as Palmetto's Finest are Riverside High in Greenville County, Reidville Elementary in Spartanburg County and Shell Point Elementary in Beaufort County. All four of the Palmetto's Finest schools will be honored by Governor David Beasley and state Superintendent of Education Barbara Nielsen at a March 10 gala in Columbia. Principal Washington says the awards bestowed on Dent aren't won easily and it takes the ``commitment of everyone here, the collaboration of everyone working together.'' It is obvious that Dent Middle School is indeed very committed to meeting the needs of an extremely diverse student body and has proficiently collaborated their efforts so that each student gets the educational attention they deserve. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join with me in paying tribute to Dent Middle School, with congratulations to Ms. Cheryl Washington; two of the Palmetto State's Finest.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Jeddah Temple No. 160 of Orangeburg County, South Carolina. Friday evening, March 6th, I will join its members in celebration of its fiftieth anniversary. Jeddah Temple is affiliated with the Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons, which is the oldest existing African-American group in the United States. Jeddah Temple has produced men of distinction throughout the nation, in the fields of education, law, engineering and finance. Since its inception in 1947, the Temple has grown in annual membership from 29 to 159 Nobles in 1982. The group has 95 members in this, its fiftieth year. The Orangeburg Chapter of Jeddah Temple has offered tireless assistance to the Orangeburg community over the fifty years since its establishment. Its mission statement articulates an emphasis on involvement in the community. Through its activities, the Temple has endeavored to promote and enhance human relations in the Orangeburg area. Members are particularly attentive to the needs of the young and elderly. The Temple promotes education through scholarships and tutorial programs, and it also assists the elderly and needy through the donation of time, food, clothing and other means. Please join me in recognizing Jeddah Temple No. 160 of Orangeburg County as it celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of its creation.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced H.R. 3266, legislation which will be of great benefit to our nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and will help preserve a vital cultural link for this country. I am very proud that each member of the Congressional Black Caucus has joined with me in co-sponsoring this bill. Our bill will amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Land Management Act of 1996 to provide additional funding for the preservation and restoration of historic buildings and structures at HBCUs. There is currently an authorization of $29 million for this activity, but much more is needed. Last year I sought a General Accounting Office (GAO) study to determine exactly the amount needed to preserve these treasures. The Congressional Black Caucus requested the GAO to conduct this survey, and after a year long undertaking, this comprehensive report was given to me on February 6th. Every HBCU responded to the GAO survey. The report documents 712 historic properties owned by these institutions, and projects a cost of $755 million to renovate and preserve these sites. The current authorization requires a dollar for dollar match from the schools, and the legislation I introduced will expand the authorized program by $377.5 million. This authorization, Mr. Speaker, requires a dollar for dollar match by the school. Mr. Speaker, once we lose a site of historic significance, it is gone forever. The extent of the threat these sites face is exemplified by their recent nomination to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Eleven Most Endangered List. The schools which will benefit from this legislation are much more than academic institutions. For many Americans these HBCUs represent the very core of their communities, and were a source of refuge, shelter, and inspiration during the dark days of segregation. Indeed, the nomination to the Eleven Most Endangered List states in part, ``During the Civil Rights Movement, HBCUs were as important as churches in the black community.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to join with me in this struggle to save a significant part of our heritage.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History Month to pay tribute to a true pioneer, Levi Pearson. As today is the 89th anniversary of the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, I should note that he was President of the Clarendon County, SC, branch of the NAACP. However, it is the work he did as an ordinary citizen from a small county in South Carolina for which he should be remembered. Last week, I paid tribute to the 20 plaintiffs of Briggs v. Elliott. Those plaintiffs were the foundation on which the case of Brown of Education of Topeka was based that eventually won the battle of public, desegregated education in our nation. Today, I pay tribute to the man who took the first courageous step on that very long road. In 1947, the search was on in Clarendon County for a parent who had the courage to test the legality of the discriminatory bus transportation practices that were the norm. Pearson had three children who attended Scotts Branch school nine miles from their home with no public transportation. On July 28, he signed a petition asking that ``school bus transportation be furnished, maintained and operated out of public funds in School District Number 26 of Clarendon County South Carolina for use of the said children of your Petitioner and other Negro school children similarly situated.'' The petition was submitted to the local school board chairman and the secretary of the State Board of Education by the Reverend Mr. Joseph Albert DeLaine, a prominent Clarendon County schoolteacher. No response was given. After 8 months of silence, Pearson's attorneys filed a brief in the United States District Court. In the brief, they cited the ``irreparable damage'' Pearson's children suffered from being denied the free bus service to which white children were entitled. The case was dismissed saying Pearson has no legal standing because his farm straddled the line between the school district where he lived and where his children went to school. Pearson's courageous stand made him a hero among his friends in the community, but a villain to his foes. Because he dared to question the status quo, the white community cut off the credit Mr. Pearson needed for farm supplies and refused to buy goods raised on his farm. Despite the severe hardships placed on Pearson and his family, he stood his ground and remained in Clarendon County with his family as many black families moved north. Although his name is not on the list of 20 petitioners in the landmark case of Briggs v. Elliott, Pearson was the driving force that led to equal education for all. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me today in paying tribute to Levi Pearson for he is indeed a pioneer, a hero and an outstanding American.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a pillar in our community, Mrs. Corrie Bell Missouri of Columbia, South Carolina, on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Mrs. Missouri has offered tireless assistance to her community for many years. She visits Pontiac Elementary School annually, where she entertains the students with facts from her ``Wonder Years.'' One of the skills Mrs. Missouri likes to share is her ability to recite the alphabet backwards. She is very active with the Francis Burns Senior Citizens, as well as with the Zion Canaan Senior Citizens Bible Study. Mrs. Missouri was born in Richland County, South Carolina, on March 24, 1898, to Wilson and Estelle Bell. Mrs. Missouri is one of six children. Her siblings include William Harry Bell of New York (89 years old), Marion Bell Foster (deceased), Desport Bell (deceased), Essie Dixon (deceased), and James S. Bell (deceased). Family and good values are Mrs. Missouri's most cherished possessions. At an early age she married Bogan C. Missouri (deceased). They had one son, the Reverend Rufus Levi Mosby. She proudly carries the title of great-grandmother and has two grand-daughters, Carrie Boyce and Beverly J. Mosby; and one great-grandson, D. ``Ray'' Boyce. In her youth, Mrs. Missouri attended school at Zion Canaan Church. In those days, children only went to school for three months so they could help in the fields the remainder of the year. Mrs. Missouri is a member of Zion Canaan Baptist Church, and she enjoys reading the Holy Bible and listening to all types of Christian music. Her favorite Bible scripture is Psalms 100, which calls for Christians to worship and give thanks to the Lord. She encourages the young to ``obey your parents. Parents, love and respect your children, and teach your children about the Lord.'' On Tuesday, March 24, 1998, family and friends will gather in celebration of Mrs. Missouri's 100th birthday. Please join me in wishing Mrs. Corrie Bell Missouri a prosperous and happy birthday. Mrs. Missouri is truly a living example of the American spirit that our country's flag represents.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black HIstory Month to pay tribute to one of the most effectual persons I have ever known, Bishop John Hurst Adams, the Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Adams was born in Columbia, South Carolina, where he now lives and presides. Bishop Adams grew up in the Waverly neighborhood of Columbia, which is located in the Sixth Congressional District which I proudly serve. He attended Waverly Elementary School, Booker T. Washington High School, and later Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he lettered in four sports. Bishop Adams continued his education at the Boston University School of Theology, Harvard University School of Divinity, and Union Theological Seminary. Bishop Adams has spread the gospel across the breadth of our country during his lifetime of service. He began his ministry with a small congregation in Lynn, Massachusetts. He taught at Payne Theological Seminary in Ohio, and later served as President of Paul Quinn College in Texas for six years and as Chairman of the Board for eight. During his years at Paul Quinn College, the school received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and saw many new buildings, renovations and improvements. Bishop Adams next pastored the First AME Church in Seattle. His impact on the community was so great that both daily newspapers published editorials lamenting his departure. From Seattle, Bishop Adams went to Los Angeles where he pastored Grant AME in the Watts section of Los Angeles, known for the Watts riot. It was here that he created a Saturday morning Ethnic School to teach reading, writing and black pride without white hate. That Saturday morning school continues to function today. It was while in Los Angeles that Bishop Adams was elected the 87th Bishop of the African Methodism. Upon his election, Bishop Adams served the Tenth Episcopal District in Texas and later left his mark on the Second Episcopal District here in the Mid-Atlantic States. Under his leadership, 40 new congregations sprouted throughout the district. From here, he went to serve the Sixth Episcopal District in Georgia, and while there served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Morris Brown College, Turner Theological Seminary, Interdenominational Theological Center and the Atlanta University Center. He also served on the Centennial Olympic Committee. I am very proud that Bishop Adam's service has now called him to the Seventh Episcopal District in South Carolina to preside over the State's 609 AME churches. Although his work is far from over, he has made numerous improvements in the community in which we live. Under his Chairmanship, Allen University, one of seven historically Black Colleges and Universities in my district, has received its ten year accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Enrollment at Allen continues to climb, and the campus is in perpetual renovation as an exciting building program has been launched. And if I might add Mr. Chairman, this body has played a significant role in that renaissance, having recently appropriated funds to begin the restoration of historic buildings on that campus. Under Bishop Adam's leadership, the Reid House of Christian Service in Charleston, has flourished and now includes the Adams Building which houses the only African American Adoption Center in South Carolina. Bishop Adams is a strong believer that people must join together to do what they cannot do alone. To that end, he has founded the Congress of National Black Churches, the Institute on Church Administration and Management in Atlanta, Georgia; the Richard Allen Service and Development Agency in Washington, D.C.; and the Educational Growth Organization in Los Angeles, California. He continues to serve on many boards and directorates, including the Interdenominational Theological Center, Institute on Church Administration and Management, Joint Center for Political Studies, Children's Defense Fund Black Community Crusade for Children, National Black United Fund, Industrial Area Foundation, National Urban League, and South Carolina's Palmetto Project. Bishop Adams has received many fitting honors and awards throughout his 25 years as Bishop. In 1996, he was awarded South Carolina's highest citizen honor, the Order of the Palmetto, in recognition of his contributions to the State. And last Saturday I joined with thousands of South Carolinians who met in Charleston to help celebrate his Golden Anniversary in the ministry and Silver Anniversary in the bishopric. That celebration, Mr. Speaker, defied the notion that a prophet is without honor in his own homeland. Although he has been called one of the ``most progressive black church leaders in history,'' Bishop Adams most important calling is that of his family. Bishop Adams and his wife, Dr. Dolly Desselle Adams, have been partners in the ministry for 41 years. They have three daughters and six grandchildren. Bishop Adams is referred to by many as the 3.5 million member AME denomination's ``most influential cleric.'' I am very proud to call him my friend. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me today in honoring Bishop John Hurst Adams whose spirit, belief, and kindness have moved communities to action across the nation. He is an excellent roll model, a valued friend, an outstanding leader and a great American.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Judge Walter Jones of the Sixth Congressional District of South Carolina. Judge Jones has been the Columbia Magistrate since 1976. It is on the occasion of his retirement that we pay tribute to his 22 years of tireless involvement in the community surrounding the Capitol city of South Carolina. Judge Jones is a champion of community involvement. His community service includes membership on the Financial Board of Sickle Cell Anemia, the Board of Judicial Standards, the United Way Board and Board of Directors of the Boys Clubs of Greater Columbia. He is also Treasurer of a Pop Warner Football League and past President of Logan and Withers Elementary School P.T.A. Through his involvement with these various organizations, Judge Jones has emerged as a role model for the community at large. Judge Jones can be heard sharing these words of wisdom with young and old alike: ``You can be anything that you want to be.'' Judge Jones is currently an active member of Bethlehem Baptist Church. He is a member of Bethleham's Board of Trustees and has served for several years as it's Chairman. His favorite Bible scripture is John 3:16 ``For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'' Judge Jones was born in Eufaula, Alabama. He has attended several institutions of higher learning which include: Texas Central State College, University of Maryland, the National Judicial College, University of Nevada, and American Academy of Judicial Education. After serving twenty years in the United States Army he retired and settled in Columbia, South Carolina. He is married to Janet Ann Sims, Jones. They are the parents of Walter, Jr., Maurice, Jeannie, and Donna and they have two grandchildren, Christopher and Joseph Gilbert. Mr. Speaker, I commend Judge Jones for his community involvement and support throughout the years, and I ask you to join with me in extending best wishes to him for a fulfilling retirement.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me during Black History month to honor a group of genuine American heroes. I rise to pay tribute to the original plaintiffs of Briggs v. Elliott. The heroism of these 20 individuals has changed both our country's past and future in a positive way. While many have studied the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, few have heard the story of the individuals who questioned the status quo in a small South Carolina county. Beginning in 1947 with a community's desire to provide bus transportation for African American children who were then walking to school, these individuals and their supporters embarked on a journey that would change the texts of history books forever. In 1949, 107 Clarendon County citizens signed a petition to the local school board that pushed beyond the transportation issue and asked for equal education for African American children. After both denials and refusals to act from the local school board, twenty of those courageous signers went on to become plaintiffs in Briggs v. Elliott in 1950. These petitioners risked their well being, many lost jobs and some were forced to move away from their families because they dared to take a stand against the ``separate but equal'' doctrine in the south. The South Carolina District Court ruled against the petitioners by denying their plea for desegregation of the schools in 1951. After a second negative hearing in 1952, Briggs v. Elliott found its way from Clarendon County, South Carolina to the United States Supreme Court. Upon being placed on the Supreme Court's calendar, Briggs v. Elliott was not alone. There were four other desegregation cases from Kansas, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia. The Court ended 1952 with a split decision on the five cases that became known as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. Late in 1953, the Supreme Court convened to hear final rearguments in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. By early 1954, the Court had written a final opinion. On May 17 at 12:52 p.m., Chief Justice Warren announced that the court had reversed the ``separate but equal'' doctrine by ruling unanimously that segregated schools were unconstitutional. The opinion reads in part, ``We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of `separate but equal' has no place.'' Warren went on to say, ``Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs . . . deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.'' Although the early political was surrounding Briggs v. Elliott were lost, these 20 plaintiffs were the foundation on which the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was based to eventually win the battle of public, desegregated education in our nation. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join with me and pay tribute to the 20 plaintiffs in Briggs v. Elliott who are indeed American heroes. Harry Briggs, Anne Gibson, Mose Oliver, Bennie Parson, Edward Ragin, William Ragin, Luchrisher Richardson, Lee Richardson, James H. Bennett, and Mary Oliver. Willie M. Stukes, G. H. Henry, Robert Georgia, Rebecca Richburg, Gabrial Tyndal, Susan Lawson, Frederick Oliver, Onetha Bennett, Hazel Ragin, and Henry Scott.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a pillar in our community, Mr. Mack Willie Rhodes of Sumter, South Carolina. Mr. Rhodes has offered tireless assistance to his community for many years. He spends valuable time visiting the sick and continually offers assistance to his neighbors, friends, and family. Mr. Rhodes became a member of Melina Presbyterian Church in 1915 and is now their oldest member. He currently serves as an Elder in his church and was a Sunday School Superintendent for many years. He also taught Sunday school at the Goodwill Presbyterian Church. Aside from his church membership, he has been a member of Masonic Lodge Golden Gate No. 73 since 1948. Mr. Rhodes was born in Sardinia, South Carolina, on February 25, 1898, to Robert and Adranna Olivia Williams Rhodes. Mr. Rhodes is the second oldest of 15 children. Family, good values, and good living are Mr. Rhodes' most cherished possessions. At an early age he married Annie Elizabeth Rhodes (deceased). They had 14 children--Calvin Oliver Rhodes, John Tillman Rhodes, Adranna Oliver Cooper, Susanna H. Hannibal, Annie Elizabeth Muldrow, Hattie Jane Burgess, Mack Willie Rhodes, Sam J. Rhodes, Daisy B. Sims, Willie Rhodes, Albert Rhodes, Viola Rhodes Montgomery, MacArthur Rhodes, and Paul Rhodes. Mr. Rhodes later married Ms. Carrie Smith Rhodes (deceased), who brought two children to his union--Maggie and Johnny Smith. He proudly carries the title of great great-grandfather and is affectionately addressed as ``Papa'' by his eight surviving children, 36 surviving grandchildren, 39 surviving great-grandchildren and 10 surviving great great- grandchildren. Mr. Rhodes' favorite past time is reading the Bible. His favorite Bible scripture is the 23rd Chapter of Psalms. Mr. Rhodes lives by a motto, ``Treat others as you would have them to treat you.'' On Saturday, February 14, 1998, family and friends will gather in celebration of Mr. Rhodes 100th birthday. Please join me in wishing Mr. Mack Willie Rhodes a prosperous and happy birthday. Mr. Rhodes is truly a living example of the American spirit that our country's flag represents.