Buddy Carter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Gathering Place in Brunswick, Georgia and to congratulate them on their 35th anniversary. Started by college students from the University of Georgia in 1979, this year marks the 35th anniversary that The Gathering Place has served the spiritual growth and development of youth in Glynn County. The Gathering Place was originally known as ``Sunday Night Live at 8:45,'' and after 2 successful summers of singing, skits, and messages about Jesus, the college students expanded the program and officially founded The Gathering Place in June, 1981. The Gathering Place has expanded since 1981 developing into a year round leadership development youth ministry with a highly diverse group of attendees. Beginning with around 100 participants, The Gathering Place now has approximately 1,000 people attending ``The Main Event,'' taking place each summer night which includes lights, music, videos, gifts, speakers, and more. The ministry of The Gathering Place has accomplished major spiritual achievements in the youth of coastal Georgia as the organization's goal is to reach students with the word of Jesus Christ, equip them to be Christian leaders, and to then send the students to spiritually impact their local communities. I am thankful to have The Gathering Place in the First Congressional District of Georgia and am proud to recognize the impact that it is making in young Georgians' lives.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Vinnie Van Go Go's. For over 25 years, Vinnie's has served quality food at affordable prices in Savannah's downtown City Market area. Since its founding on February 16, 1991, Vinnie's has continued to serve excellent ``thin hearty crust Neapolitan pizza'' to Savannahians and tourists from all over the world. Just like other Savannah mysteries, its founder and owner notoriously remains nameless as numerous Savannah myths revolve around his or her true identity and eccentricities. As a cash-only establishment, Vinnie's has won multiple awards for its food, including best pizza in the State of Georgia by the Food Network in 2012. It also delivers by professional bicyclists to customers in Savannah's downtown area. I am proud to recognize Vinnie Van Go Go's achievement for 25 years as a successful, local and nationally recognized business.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20th anniversary of the Southern Technology Advocacy Resources Foundation, the STAR Foundation, and its unbelievable capability to transform lives in coastal Georgia. Wally and Katie Orrel and Ellen Murphy founded the STAR Foundation in 1997 with the goal of providing computer training to residents of public housing in Brunswick, Georgia. Over its 20 years, the STAR Foundation has expanded to teaching life, financial, and work-readiness skills that lead their students to be successful members of their community and the workforce. The STAR Foundation's 8-week course is open to students outside of public housing as well as residents of McIntosh and Camden Counties. The impact of this foundation is incredible. Over 1,000 students have graduated from the STAR Foundation, and 70 percent of their graduates improve their employment status within 15 months of graduation. Some outstanding students can even receive a personal computer for their home. I am grateful for the work that the STAR Foundation is doing in the First Congressional District of Georgia, and I wish the program and its graduates success for many years to come.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a true civil servant and my friend, Representative Bob Bryant, who died this morning. Over his lifetime, Representative Bryant's professional career included a variety of services in different areas. He began his career serving 2 years in South Vietnam and 10 years as an Army recruiter before retiring in 1982. He then worked 5 years as general manager for a local radio station, spent time as office manager to a local law firm, and worked 13 years for the city of Savannah, until he retired in 2001. After 40 years of service to his community, he was not done. He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2004 and was currently serving his 12th year. I will always remember Representative Bryant, as he and I worked together to pass our first pieces of legislation in the Georgia House over a decade ago. I can truly say that he was beloved by his constituents and colleagues alike. I am deeply saddened by the loss of my friend and colleague. I wish to extend my condolences to his family. He will be missed.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3004, which would extend authorization for the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission through October of 2021. The low country and sea islands of our southeastern States, including the First Congressional District of Georgia, are home to some of our Nation's most treasured cultures. One of the most unique is the Gullah/ Geechee people. Over the past three centuries, the Gullah/Geechee people have developed and preserved their own distinct language and culture that retains many of their African traditions. The Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor was created to recognize the cultural contributions of the Gullah/Geechee and to assist in preserving and interpreting their history, language, folklore, art, and music. The Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission coordinates with local officials and communities to preserve and honor the Gullah/ Geechee heritage for years to come. H.R. 3004 would extend the Commission's authorization for an additional 5 years so that they may continue their mission of preserving the valuable contributions of the Gullah/Geechee culture. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Amanda Hallman of West Chatham Elementary School in Pooler, Georgia, for winning the 2017 Savannah-Chatham County Teacher of the Year Award. Ms. Hallman is a 10 year teaching veteran and has been teaching math and science to 5th graders at West Chatham Elementary School for 3 years. Ms. Hallman says she was inspired to be a great teacher after her grandmother and co-teacher died within two days of each other last year. Ms. Hallman's inspiration is certainly noticeable in her enthusiastic commitment to motivate as well as educate using funny accents and dressing up in costumes while teaching classes. She explores almost any avenue to help her students learn. On February 11th, Ms. Hallman was recognized at the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Gala at the Savannah International Trade Center during which she was presented the Teacher of the Year Award. Competition for the award is fierce since the award is presented a year in advance due to the time consuming and rigorous selection process. Fifty-five of the top teachers from the Savannah-Chatham County area wrote essays, were observed in the classroom, and were personally interviewed by community leaders and former Teachers of the Year. Ms. Hallman was also presented with a flag of Liberty and Learning which will be flown above her school, given the opportunity to lead the Professional Senate, and will now compete for the Georgia State Teacher of the Year Award. I am thankful to have Ms. Hallman teaching in Georgia's First Congressional District and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Band of Brothers Bible Study in Garden City and Savannah, Georgia. Ten years ago, Pastor Kenny Grant and five others started a support group for all walks of life to study God's word and help each other grow as Christians. Today, Band of Brothers has over two hundred in attendance each Friday morning at the Garden City First Baptist Church as well as six hundred and fifty individuals receiving weekly videos, in case they miss a meeting. Meetings every Friday morning have become a safe place for many to discuss issues in their life and to study more about the Bible and themselves in front of men who have become, for many, a second family. Since its beginning, I have had the privilege to be a regular member of the Band of Brothers Bible Study, enjoying others' company, listening to inspirational music, and through the Bible, growing a Christian community with men that I now call my friends. I want to congratulate Band of Brothers on their achievements and wish them continued success in the Garden City and Savannah Communities.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize former mayor of Hinesville, James Thomas, Jr., for his exceptional job as mayor as well as his endless support for our nation's military. Elected mayor in 2007, Mr. Thomas has dedicated his life to public service. With a graduate degree in Business Management from Central Michigan University and a graduate degree in Public Administration from Georgia Southern University, he has served the city of Hinesville and Liberty County for nearly 30 years. Prior to being elected mayor, Mr. Thomas was a military officer and a Department of Defense civil servant where he worked as a liaison between Fort Stewart, Liberty County, and the City of Hinesville. In addition, he used his skills as a trained Engineering Project Manager to oversee the construction of ``Warriors Walk,'' a memorial to fallen soldiers and civilians at Fort Stewart. Mayor Thomas has also contributed to the prosperity of Hinesville and Liberty County through his numerous public service positions. He was Chairman of the Liberty County Planning Commission, member of the Liberty County Hospital Authority, Hinesville Architectural Review Board, and the Hinesville Military Affairs Committee. His remarkable dedication and leadership to Hinesville will truly be missed.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this is just another example of excessive burdens placed on small businesses from Federal regulations. The proposed menu labeling requirements by the FDA, which come from a provision of ObamaCare, will require restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and even movie theaters and miniature golf courses to list the number of calories in food and drinks they sell. Thousands of small businesses will have to absorb the cost of providing new menu displays and calorie information. As a former small business owner, I can tell you this is money small businesses cannot afford. Ultimately, the group that will pay the price for these new regulations is the American consumer through increased food and drink costs at their local restaurants and grocery stores. Several large chain stores have welcomed these new regulations. I wonder why. They know that their small business competitors can't afford to purchase new menus and signs, placing them at a disadvantage to the larger chain companies. I find it ironic that this administration that champions itself a small business advocate, continues to place additional burdens on small businesses at the advantage of larger corporations. H.R. 2017, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015 remedies this glaring conflict and removes the unnecessary and expensive red tape so small business owners can continue to compete and grow our economy. I encourage my colleagues to support small businesses by supporting this legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Jim Monaghan and his dedication to Tybee Island, Georgia. Born in New York City in 1927, Mr. Monaghan arrived in Savannah by sailboat in 1982 with his wife, Anne Merchant Monaghan. Soon after their arrival in Savannah, they moved to Tybee Island. Over the years, Mr. Monaghan served Tybee Island with enthusiasm. He served on the Tybee Island City Council, volunteered at the Tybee lighthouse, and delivered stuffed animals to nursing home residents. He was a board member and former president of the Tybee Island Republican Club. A true gentleman with an uplifting spirit and a warm smile, Mr. Monaghan rarely missed the club's dinner meetings, always enjoying the social atmosphere and meeting new guests. Mr. Monaghan passed away last week at the age of 88. He is survived by his two children, Mr. James C. ``Tripp'' Monaghan III, and Mrs. Shane Sturm. I am honored to celebrate the life, the generosity, and the character of Jim Monaghan. He will truly be missed.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Stephen Elmo Weeks, who passed away on January 17, 2016. Born on December 6, 1919, Elmo, as his friends called him, graduated from Savannah High School in 1940. Upon graduation, Elmo attended the Georgia Institute of Technology before heading off to war in 1942, where he was stationed at a German POW camp in Opelika, Alabama. Upon his return to Savannah, he joined the family business, Fox & Weeks funeral home, and soon became actively involved as a founding board member for the Savannah Christian Preparatory School. Mr. Weeks was actively engaged with numerous organizations in the Savannah area, including the Savannah Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, and his church and my church, Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church. He was also a man who recognized and enjoyed the great outdoors. As an avid boater, he spent a significant amount of time on the water, teaching his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren about life's lessons. Whether it was having lunch at the Oglethorpe Club with his close friends or his continued involvement with the funeral home into his late eighties, Elmo was a committed and devoted man who always put his friends and family first. Elmo, your love and service to your family and community will be missed. Remembering the Life of Jim Monaghan

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Frankie Quimby and the Association for Cultural Equity. Ms. Quimby, the oldest of 13 children, was born and raised on the Georgia Sea Islands and descended from slaves of the Hopeton and Altama Plantations in Glynn County. She, along with her family, make up the Georgia Sea Island Singers, who have continued to preserve the rich traditions of African American culture, customs, and the songs of the Gullah language. In fact, the Quimby family is one of only a few families who can trace their ancestry back to a specific spot in Africa on the Niger River. In fact, the Quimby family is one of only a few families who can trace their ancestry back to a specific spot in Africa on the Niger River. Along with the Association for Cultural Equity, whose mission is to facilitate cultural equity through preservation, publication, and repatriation of music, dance, and spoken word, the Quimby family has been able to continue to preserve the rich heritage of their African American culture throughout the Georgia Sea Islands because people living in the area have been able to retain pure versions of games and songs brought over from Africa centuries ago. I commend Ms. Frankie Quimby, the Quimby family, and the Association for Cultural Equity for preserving this rich history of Georgia's heritage. Stephen Elmo Weeks

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Abit Massey. Last week, Mr. Massey was awarded one of the highest honors that anyone can receive from the University of Georgia. On January 27, Mr. Massey was awarded the University of Georgia President's Medal for extraordinary contributions to students in academic programs, the advancement of research, and for inspiring community leaders to enhance Georgians' quality of life. Mr. Massey graduated from the University of Georgia in 1949, and received his Juris Doctorate from Emory University. For almost 50 years, he was executive director of the Georgia Poultry Federation, known to many as the dean of the poultry industry. Before joining the Georgia Poultry Federation, he was head of the Georgia Department of Commerce, where he created the first Welcome Center in Georgia. He has received numerous awards for his service to the State of Georgia. But Mr. Massey would argue that his greatest accomplishment would be his family. Mr. Massey, along with his wife, Kayanne, who was a former Miss Georgia, have more than 18 family members who attended the University of Georgia, and the Massey family was named the University of Georgia Alumni Association Family of the Year in 2014. I commend Mr. Massey for his commitment to Georgia, and I congratulate him for receiving this distinguished award. Recognizing Ms. Frankie Quimby and the Association for Cultural Equity

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the lives of Mr. Hugo Parkman and Mrs. Doris Parkman. Residents of Palmetto, Georgia, Mr. Parkman passed away on November 20, 2012, and Mrs. Parkman passed away last Sunday, February 7, 2016. Mr. Parkman served on the USS Finback during World War II and became bunk-mates with future President George H.W. Bush after President Bush's plane was shot down over the Pacific. Mrs. Parkman was the first member of her family to attend college, enrolling in Alabama College. She then went to missionary school in Kentucky to study religious education where she met her life-long partner, Hugo. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Parkman served as Southern Baptist missionaries in Makati, Philippines, establishing a church and serving everywhere they went. Throughout their travels, family always came first for Mr. and Mrs. Parkman who are survived by their six children, 15 grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. They will truly be missed.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Curtis Foltz and his retirement as executive director from the Georgia Ports Authority. Over the past 5 years, Mr. Foltz has done an exceptional job overseeing all Georgia Ports Authority activity, including the expansion and maintenance of the deepwater ports of Savannah and Brunswick. Since his promotion to executive director in 2010, Mr. Foltz led Georgia Ports Authority to achieve record cargo growth, modernize its terminals, increase efficiency, improve safety, and promote environmental stewardship. I am honored and grateful for Mr. Foltz' leadership as Georgia Ports Authority's executive director and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I would also like to wish the incoming executive director, Griff Lynch, and the Georgia Ports Authority continued growth and success for years to come.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Commander Axel W. Spens's retirement and twenty-two years of service in the United States Navy. Commander Spens is a native of Morgantown, West Virginia, and most recently served as the commanding officer of Naval Recruiting District (NRD) Atlanta. He graduated in 1994 from David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, with a degree in American Studies and he received his commission in the U.S. Navy from Vanderbilt University NROTC. In 1993, he was recognized as a NAIA Academic All-American athlete in cross country. In 2000, he received a Master of Public Administration degree from Valdosta State University. Commander Spens completed submarine training at Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida, Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, South Carolina, and the officer basic course in Groton, Connecticut. He served as a division officer in USS West Virginia in Kings Bay, Georgia, as the Navigator in USS Florida in Bangor, Washington, and the Combat Systems Officer in both USS Newport News in Norfolk, Virginia, as well as in USS La Jolla in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His most recent sea assignment was as the executive officer on USS Cheyenne in Hawaii. He has completed two Mediterranean deployments, two Western Pacific deployments and seven strategic patrols. Commander Spens has also served as an instructor and class director at the Naval Nuclear Power School in Charleston, South Carolina, at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Millington, Tennessee, the operations officer at Submarine Squadron One at Pearl Harbor, and as a Navy Legislative Fellow on the personal staff of Congressman Jack Kingston. His most recent assignment was on the Navy Staff as the Executive Assistant for the Director of Undersea Warfare. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Commander Axel Spens and to celebrate his many years of hard work and dedication to the United States Navy.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding and for his leadership on this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 766, the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2015. Over the past several years, the Obama administration's Department of Justice has strong-armed the financial industry in an attempt to cut off payment processors, short-term lenders, gun and ammunition stores, and other companies from banking services simply because they do not like their line of business. Operation Choke Point is just another example of this administration trying to advance its radical leftist agenda through executive power overreach with a disregard for Americans' due process rights. In effect, these businesses are being treated as if they are guilty until proven innocent. The bill before us today prevents Federal bureaucrats from abusing their executive power to prevent legitimate businesses from using depository banks. It also requires written justification of any request to terminate or restrict a business' account, unless the business poses a legitimate threat to national security. In the First Congressional District of Georgia that I represent, we have a large, multi-State licensed consumer finance company that services more than 1,000 new customers every day. This is just another example of this administration working to limit economic growth and Americans' free will. I urge my colleagues to support this bill so we can put an end to this administration's unconstitutional actions and restore the rule of law.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 46, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Charles Ramm Holm, Jr. who passed away on Monday, January 11, 2016. Charlie was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Charles Ramm Holm, Sr. and Ruth Carr Holm. In 1961, Charlie moved away from South Georgia to Washington, D.C. to begin his distinguished 18 year career in the public service. His desire to assist the American people and the U.S. Congress led him to work for Congressman G. Elliot Hagan as well as the Congressional Liaison for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Congressional Liaison for the Executive Office of the President. His commitment to public service continued until his retirement in 1979 while working for the Select Committee on Outer Continental Shelf/ Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Charlie was a long time member of the Board of Directors for the Congressional Staff Club, Vice President of the Administrative Assistants Association for the U.S. House of Representatives, and President of the Administrative Assistants Association. Charlie's efforts still did not end there as he became a mentor to young children and a committed father by coaching his son's Little League baseball teams. Charlie is survived by his two sons, Charles R. Holm, III and James Douglas Holm, Sr. and his wife, Janet; his two grandsons, Christian Clarke Holm and James Douglas ``Jimmy'' Holm, Jr.; and one great- grandson, Ashton Cross Holm, and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 44, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Personal Explanation

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Charles Ramm Holm, Jr. who passed away on Monday, January 11, 2016. Charlie was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Charles Ramm Holm, Sr. and Ruth Carr Holm. In 1961, Charlie moved away from South Georgia to Washington, D.C. to begin his distinguished 18 year career in the public service. His desire to assist the American people and the U.S. Congress led him to work for Congressman G. Elliot Hagan as well as the Congressional Liaison for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Congressional Liaison for the Executive Office of the President. His commitment to public service continued until his retirement in 1979 while working for the Select Committee on Outer Continental Shelf/ Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Charlie was a long time member of the Board of Directors for the Congressional Staff Club, Vice President of the Administrative Assistants Association for the U.S. House of Representatives, and President of the Administrative Assistants Association. Charlie's efforts still did not end there as he became a mentor to young children and a committed father by coaching his son's Little League baseball teams. Charlie is survived by his wife, Janet; his two sons, Charles R. Holm III and James Douglas Holm, Sr.; his two grandsons, Christian Clarke Holm and James Douglas ``Jimmy'' Holm, Jr.; and one great-grandson, Ashton Cross Holm.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and passage of S.J. Res. 22, which provides congressional disapproval on EPA's extreme overreach with their waters of the U.S. rule. Last June, the EPA published its final orders of the U.S. rule that would virtually give them authority over any place water flows or accumulates. This would include driveways, ditches, manmade ponds, and even our watered lawns. Currently, private and public entities spend an average of $271,000 and wait an average of 788 days to obtain permits from the EPA for projects currently under its jurisdiction. Expanding EPA's authority in this unprecedented way would be extremely devastating to landowners, especially farmers, and make devastating statistics even worse. With this bill, Congress would nullify this ridiculous rule and continue to provide Americans with personal control over their property. Property is not an asset that can be taken control of on the whim of a government agency. Property rights are an essential natural right of every American, and this fact has been embedded in our country's DNA since its beginning. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and S.J. Res. 22 so we can prevent this terrible law from infringing on the natural rights of all Americans.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay respects to Neil Ratchford, who passed away peacefully on Sunday at the age of 87. Mr. Ratchford was born on November 1, 1928. He grew up and lived his entire 87 years in Guyton, Georgia. He will be remembered as the sausage man because he made hot meat sausage, a family tradition since 1898. He continued this family tradition until 1999, when he passed along the business to his son-in- law. Throughout his life, he stayed community- and family-minded, believing that the best committee meetings were those with three members and two absent. For over 50 years, along with his friend Lawton Nease, he spearheaded the 5th Sunday Men's Breakfast, which brings fathers and their sons together for a morning of faithful worship at the Guyton United Methodist Church. He was a man of few words but believed you should make your words count. In the end, he joins his wife, Mary Olive, having lived a long, fruitful life raising four children and two grandsons, who now attend my alma mater, the University of Georgia. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of every American's Second Amendment rights. The recent announcement by President Obama to unilaterally enact gun control laws once again shows his complete lack of leadership and a complete disregard for Americans' fundamental rights. The President should be working with Congress to enact legislation, not creating executive orders because things don't work out his way. The fact is that the President's executive actions would not have prevented a single mass shooting over the past several years. One of the main underlying causes of many of these shootings was mental illness, and I will be the first to agree that we should dedicate efforts to address mental illness in this country. However, directing millions of dollars in new investment for mental health care is not the role of the President. That is the role for Congress. If our Founding Fathers wanted to restrict the right to bear arms, they would have written it into our Constitution. If our Founding Fathers wanted an executive fiat government, they would have created one. I call on my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to stand up for this institution and protect what our Founding Fathers fought and died for: a Republic elected by the people, for the people; a country that is not controlled by one man, but by many.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay respect to William Wallace Sprague, Jr., who peacefully passed away last week at the age of 89. Mr. Sprague was born on November 11, 1926. He served 2 years in the United States Navy during World War II, and he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from MIT and Yale in 1950. From 1972 to 1994, he was chairman of the board and the CEO of Savannah Foods and Industries, which was the maker of Dixie Crystals sugar. Under his leadership, Savannah Foods grew from a small regional sugar refinery to a major national sugar company and a Fortune 500 member. In fact, from 1980 to 1990, Savannah Foods was number two in total returns to shareholders with a total return of 4,862 percent. Over the years, he also served as the director of several national and international associations. In 1999, he was inducted into the Georgia Southern University's Business Hall of Fame. He was very involved in the Savannah community, serving as director, trustee, or president for numerous community organizations, and he also worked to improve the lives of people in the community in which he lived. His passion for life, his sense of humor, and his enthusiasm for making Savannah, Georgia, a better place will truly be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.