Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor University of Alabama gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson who led the Crimson Tide to its sixth national championship this spring. In addition to racking up an impressive record of victories over her 34 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Coach Patterson has helped establish Alabama as a dominate force in college gymnastics.

It is fitting that Coach Patterson was hired by then-Athletic Director Paul ``Bear'' Bryant, himself no stranger to bringing home national titles to Alabama. Since arriving in Tuscaloosa after graduating from Slippery Rock State College in Pennsylvania, Coach Patterson has proven time and again her ability to lead the Crimson Tide's gymnastics team and maintain its dominance in the college sport.

Coach Patterson vaulted the University to prominence as one of only four teams to capture the NCAA Women's Gymnastics championship since Women's Gymnastics was declared a championship sport in 1982. Her excellence in coaching also helped to earn the Crimson Tide gymnastics team spots in 29 consecutive NCAA championship competitions. Coach Patterson has also led the Tide to 27 years of a top six finish and 20 top three finishes.

Fittingly, Coach Patterson was named NCAA Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year in 1986, 1988, 1991, and 2002; and Southeastern Conference Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year in 1985, 1995, 2000 and 2010.

Coach Patterson's distinguished record includes: Six NCAA Women's Gymnastics championships--1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011, and 2012; Seven Southeastern Conference Championships--1988, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2009, and 2011; 27 NCAA Regional Titles--1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Coach Patterson is assisted by her husband, David, who helps with coaching the athletes. Their hard work, along with other volunteer coaches and assistant coaches, have led the Alabama gymnastics team to six national championships and the enviable position of being one of the best in the nation, year in and year out, as well as the many well- rounded athletes who have graduated to go on to great success in many fields.

Inducted in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, Coach Patterson has brought the gymnastics team to the forefront of intercollegiate athletics and she has kept them in the forefront. In a recent interview with The Huntsville Times, Coach Patterson noted that she felt ``fortunate'' to be a component of the ``history and tradition'' at the University of Alabama.

It's safe to say that Coach Patterson has certainly earned her position as a part of the University's proud athletic history.

On behalf of the people of Alabama and my colleagues in the Alabama Delegation, I wish to extend personal congratulations to Coach Sarah Patterson for her remarkable record of achievement at the University of Alabama and for her many contributions to the lives of all who have called her coach.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the outstanding contributions of one of South Alabama's most distinguished and trusted broadcast journalists, Mr. Bob Howell.

As of today, June 1, 2012, Bob Howell officially retires from WSFA TV 12 in Montgomery where he anchored the evening news for more than three decades.

A native of Geneva, Alabama, Bob Howell first set foot on his lifelong career path in broadcasting while still a high school student. After taking the mic at WGEA radio in his hometown, he traveled east to Dothan, Alabama to deliver the news at WTVY TV 4 for five years. In 1976, Bob moved to Alabama's capital city to take the helm of the region's largest television news operation, WSFA TV, where he anchored the weekday 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

As WSFA's press release announcing Bob's retirement aptly observed, ``He has had the job of delivering the day's news to thousands of viewers with a calm, trusted, steady and caring approach through difficult, challenging and happy times.''

Over the years, he has anchored more than 10,000 live newscasts in addition to serving as the Managing Editor of WSFA's news department. His three decade career at WSFA witnessed his live reporting of gubernatorial inaugurations, most of the State's historic events of the last thirty years, as well as foreign assignments covering stories in Britain, France, Germany, and Kuwait.

In addition to his anchoring role, Bob also produced award-winning documentaries, hosted WSFA's ``Newsmakers'' program, ``Alabama Illustrated,'' ``Inside Alabama's Legislature,'' and co-hosted the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and the Children's Miracle Network fundraisers. He also hosted the regular news feature, ``Exploring Alabama with Bob Howell.''

Despite his busy schedule covering and delivering breaking news to thousands of South Alabama residents, including Clarke, Monroe and Escambia counties in my congressional district, Bob also returned his knowledge and expertise to college journalism students as an instructor at Troy University's Hall School of Journalism for more than 20 years.

As Bob officially begins his retirement from WSFA and broadcasting, he has made it clear that he will not be giving up work. He is already busy making plans for his next career for which he promises he still has a lot to offer.

On behalf of the people of South Alabama, and as someone who grew up watching Bob deliver the evening news, I thank Bob for his dedication and professionalism and wish him and his wife and family all the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ms. Robin Gregorius, who was recently selected the 2012 Alabama Small Business Person of Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Ms. Gregorius' personal story is a testament to her determination to realize her dream of establishing an assisted living center that addresses the needs of her patients for the comforts and of home rather than a care facility.

The daughter of immigrant parents from the former nation of Czechoslovakia, Ms. Gregorius grew up on a farm in Robertsdale in Baldwin County, Alabama.

Her career as a registered nurse took her across the country, both near and far, including the cities of New Orleans and Los Angeles. Yet, she returned to the Mobile area to put her knowledge to work for local patients who would benefit from her new approach to assisted living care.

In a recent interview with the Mobile Press-Register, Ms. Gregorius noted that over her career she had observed that her older patients longed for ``homey'' surroundings in their care facilities with home cooking--important touches that were often lacking in assisting living quarters. And equally important, the staff in many care facilities seldom offered the ``family touch'' that many older patients sought.

Ms. Gregorius knew there was a better way and she sought to implement a new approach of ``assisted living with a heartbeat.'' While the journey to fufilling her dream was a long one, involving two decades of saving money--often working double shifts to earn for a down payment-- she eventually secured a $1 million bank loan. The results have been rewarding.

Today, she owns and operates the Country Gables Assisted Living Home in Grand Bay where she and her staff of 14 care for patients in a novel way. As she put it, her care facility ``is pretty much run like a big bed-and-breakfast hotel, except it's breakfast, lunch and dinner with a 24-hour continuum of care.''

Ms. Gregorius is joined by her mother, Lahoma, and her sister, Ramona, in running their small assisted living facility like a large family home. Their hard work has been rewarded with the satisfaction of their patients and the knowledge that County Gables is a special place.

Fittingly, in March, Robin Gregorius was named as Alabama's Small Business Person of the Year. On May 20, 2012, she will officially receive her award at a Small Business Administration conference honoring the nation's other Small Business awardees here in Washington,

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the exemplary life of a beloved and respected citizen of South Alabama, Mr. Winfred Young ``Chuck'' Lord, who recently passed away at the age of 75.

If we are truly fortunate, we may have an opportunity to get to know a person or two who is an inspiration in all that they do. Such people leave lifelong impressions on family and friends and their example calls us to be our best as well. To all who knew him, Chuck Lord was such an inspiration.

A native of Atlanta and a longtime resident of Mobile, Chuck Lord embodied the qualities of hard work, dedication to family and devotion to faith that made this country great. Hard work met up with him at an early age. Beginning at age 13, he labored to support himself and, at 17, he joined the Navy where he served for three years as a machinist aboard the USS St. Paul, a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser.

After completing his duty to country, Chuck Lord returned to civilian life, taking a job at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company in California. It was also in the Golden State that he met his future wife, Patricia. After a three-month courtship, they married, embarking on a journey that endured for 52 years.

In 1974, they bought a small vacuum business in Mobile. Chuck's hard work and skill led A&A Vacuum to expand to new locations in Mobile and Fairhope, transforming the company into a regional institution.

Chuck Lord was known as a fighter, giving his family and his business his full measure of attention even in the face of serious health conditions. Even as he recovered from heart transplant surgery, he insisted upon helping to run his business. Similarly, when he suffered kidney disease, he chose to undergo dialysis during the evenings so as not to interfere with his work schedule.

Chuck Lord treated his customers with the same dutiful attention to detail, earning him the respect and friendship of many.

On behalf of the people of South Alabama, I would like to extend my condolences to his wife Patricia, their children, Susan, Michael, Jenny, David, Dan, and Tony; their 28 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and many friends. You are all in our prayers.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize Honor Flight South Alabama and the World War II veterans this very special organization is bringing on its seventh flight to Washington, D.C. on May 9, 2012. It is also my honor to insert this tribute into the Record during the week of the 67th anniversary of the Victory in Europe (V E Day).

Founded by the South Alabama Veterans Council, Honor Flight South Alabama is an organization whose mission is to fly heroes from southwest Alabama to see their national memorial.

Nearly seven decades have passed since the end of World War II and, regrettably, it took nearly this long to complete work on the memorial that honors the spirit and sacrifice of the 16 million who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and the more than 400,000 who died. Sadly, many veterans did not live long enough to hear their country say ``thank you,'' yet for

those veterans still living, Honor Flight provides for many their first--and perhaps only--opportunity to see the National World War II Memorial, which honors their service and sacrifice.

This Honor Flight begins at dawn when the veterans will gather at historic Fort Whiting in Mobile and travel to Mobile Regional Airport to board a chartered flight to Washington. During their time in their nation's capital, the veterans will visit the World War II Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and other memorials.

The veterans will return to Mobile Regional Airport that evening, where some 1,000 people are expected to greet them.

Mr. Speaker, the May 9, 2012, journey of heroes from South Alabama is an appropriate time for us to pause and thank them--and all of the soldiers who fought in World War II. They collectively--and literally-- saved the world. They personify the very best America has to offer, and I urge my colleagues to take a moment to pay tribute to their selfless devotion to our country and the freedoms we enjoy.

I salute each of the veterans who made the trip to Washington. May we never forget their valiant deeds and tremendous sacrifices:

Bradford Amazeen; Frank Boykin, Jr.; Henry Brady; Wesley Davis; Charles Jackson; Manley Kulman; Archie Lewis; Raymond Lovell; Travis Mitchell; Niland Mortimer; Wilson Oglesby; James O'Rear; John Osterday, Sr.; Almon Ready; Kermit Reedstrom; Dr. James Rencher; Harold Richard; Jesse Robinson; Raymond Roser; Lawrence Roubion, Jr.; John Ruffin; James Santa Cruz, Jr.; Harold Schumann; Richard Stairhime; Lloyd Stewart; William Sumrall; Harlan Taylor; Tom Ware; Robert Wheeler; Wendell Williamson; Hugh Blount; William Boone; Cecil Bosarge; John Bosco; Howard Bowman; Vercial Bray; William Brennan; Claude Broun; Johnnie Burgess; Paul Carroll, Jr.; Cordelia Catlin; Dan Coleman; Leo Crain; Miles Crutchfield; Carl Daughdrill; Dr. Conan Davis; Nathan Denmark; Kirby Evans; Almus Goins; Johnnie Grovenstein; Michael Guarino; Angelo Harris, Jr.; John Hickman, Sr.; Joseph C. Holliday; Philip Kile; Richard Lentz; Alfred Phillips; Rudolph Rolison, Sr; John Tyson, Sr.; Thomas Brown; Frank Daniels; Lyman Daugherty; Elisha Davis, Jr.; John Folson; Edward Haeflinger; Oliver Henderson, Jr.; Frank Holyfield; Hal Johnson; Mitford Keel; Thomas Kelly, Jr.; James Lambeth; Father George Lassett; Josephine Lassett; Donald LeDuc; Seymour Lichtenfeld; Arnold Loucks; John Magnon; Ulderico Marcucci; Moss McCarty; Raymond McCrary; Earl McDonald; Pervis McMillan; Nicolas McShea, Jr.; Robert Nodar; Edward O'Neal; Charles Parker; Kenneth Patrick; Edwin Phillips; Arthur Raines; and James Werner.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Ed Leigh McMillan II, of Brewton, a distinguished and much beloved South Alabama businessman who recently passed away at the age of 71.

A native of Brewton, Ed Leigh graduated from T.R. Miller High School before earning college degrees in forest management from North Carolina State University and in finance from the University of Alabama.

After college, he returned to Brewton to assume the position of first forester of the T.R. Miller Mill Company, a role that helped to launch his lifelong extensive forestry career.

He served as past president and past director of Cedar Creek Land & Timber Inc. in Brewton, which owns timberland in South Alabama; and as past corporate secretary and director of the T.R. Miller Mill Company overseeing their timberland in South Alabama and Florida. Additionally, he held the position of president of Neal Land & Timber Company Inc. in Blountstown, Florida, and served on the Board of Directors.

His vast business experience was not limited to timber, however. He was also general partner of McMillan, Ltd., of Brewton, which has holdings in oil and gas interests as well as timber in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. Another role he enjoyed was that of

owner of Double ``M'' Farms of Brewton, where he raised commercial cross-bred cows and calves.

Throughout his life, being a good steward of the land was always of utmost importance. Ed Leigh generously supported the Alabama Wildlife Association, the Nature Conservancy, and the Boy Scouts of America, among others, and received many honors and recognitions for his contributions.

In 1981, Mr. McMillan received the W. Kelly Mosley Environmental Award for Achievements in Forestry, Wildlife and Related Resources. He was also recognized as an American Tree Farmer, and was honored by the Forest Landowner's Association as Forest Landowner of the Year in 2010. A year later, he was spotlighted by his alma mater, North Carolina State University, as the 2011 Distinguished Alumnus by the College of Natural Resources.

Managing trustee of the D.W. McMillan Trust and the D.W. McMillan Foundation in Brewton, he was instrumental in building and strengthening the community through his stewardship. The Brewton Library, the D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital, the Brewton YMCA, Jefferson Davis Community College and countless individuals have been the recipients of the charitable generosity under his leadership. Fittingly, he was honored by the Brewton Chamber of Commerce as the 1983 Man of the Year.

On behalf of the people of South Alabama, I offer condolences to his wife, Elizabeth Ann; their two sons, Ed Leigh McMillan III, and Daniel W. McMillan; his step-daughter, Christina Johnson; and their ten grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and entire family. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant and good friend to many in the Alabama legal community, former Mobile federal prosecutor Edward J. Vulevich, Jr., who recently passed away at the age of 78.

A native of South Alabama, Ed Vulevich spent four decades guiding-- and, at one time leading--the U.S. Attorney's office in Mobile. Throughout, he was a trusted advocate for justice and a steady force in the U.S. Attorney's office.

A graduate of McGill Institute, Ed Vulevich earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama. After law school, he joined the Air Force where he served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps in Japan during the late 1950s.

After serving his country, Ed Vulevich returned to Mobile to clerk for U.S. District Judge Daniel Thomas before joining the Tonsmeire, McFadden law firm. In 1969, he left private practice to become a federal prosecutor in the Mobile U.S. Attorney's office.

At the Mobile office, Ed Vulevich served as Chief of the Civil Division for 25 years and held the post of First Assistant U.S. Attorney. From 1993 to 1995, he rose to the position of interim U.S. Attorney in Mobile during the transition between the administrations of President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton.

According to the Mobile Press-Register, Ed Vulevich was among the first group of federal prosecutors in the late 1960s who held career posts that carried over from one presidential administration to the next.

He was an able administrator helping guide the U.S. Attorney's office during his four decades of service. Over the same period, the office saw growth in the number of prosecutors from less than ten to more than 50 and witnessed a marked caseload increase.

A devoted legal scholar and defender of the people, Ed Vulevich was well-liked and respected by his colleagues and many others in the legal profession. He retired from federal service in 2006.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of South Alabama, I join this House in extending heartfelt condolences to Ed's wife of forty years, Diane; their daughters, Erin and Jan; their son, Edward; their three grandchildren; as well as his sisters Ann, Jane and Helen. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Malcolm ``Mack'' Portera, who recently announced his well-deserved retirement after leading the University of Alabama System for more than a decade. He was the fifth chancellor and the longest serving in the System's history.

In March, Mack Portera officially retired as Chancellor of the University of Alabama System, which includes the school's three campuses in Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa.

Dr. Portera has a long and distinguished association with the University of Alabama, also holding the title of Vice President of External Affairs as well as interim president of the Birmingham and Huntsville campuses.

Over the years, Mack Portera's contributions to the University, higher education and business development in Alabama have been considerable. Even before he assumed the top leadership post at the University, Dr. Portera was already involved in top-tier business recruitment efforts in the state of Alabama, including Mercedes Benz.

Under his leadership as Chancellor of the University of Alabama System, total enrollment expanded from 45,000 to 58,000 students. Over the same period, the total budget for the three campuses more than doubled--increasing from $2.1 billion in 2001 to $4.6 billion today.

Prior to becoming Chancellor, Dr. Portera was the 16th president of Mississippi State University, and in 1996, he launched a successful business development and strategic planning company.

In 2003, he was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor, a group of 100 living Alabamians elected on the basis of service to the state.

Dr. Portera's impact has been felt both within and beyond the University System. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Alabama Power Company and in leadership roles for the Birmingham Business Alliance, the Riley Foundation, Southern Research Institute, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Foundation, Operation New Birmingham, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Research Foundation, and the University of Alabama at Huntsville Foundation. He is the former chair of the Council of Presidents of the Southeastern Universities Research Association and Vice Chair of the Alabama Research Alliance.

Dr. Portera received his undergraduate and master's degrees from Mississippi State University and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Alabama.

Not one to divert from his life-long devotion of giving to the community he loves so much, Dr. Portera plans to remain in Tuscaloosa offering his services as a part-time teacher.

I join the people of Alabama in extending to Dr. Portera our sincere gratitude for his tireless service to the University of Alabama System and to our state. His legacy is a strong

one and there are countless examples of where his service has benefitted the entire state and nation. May Mack and his lovely wife, Olivia, enjoy a happy and rewarding retirement with their children and grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of South Alabama's senior statesmen. This fall, Atmore Mayor Howard Shell will officially retire from office, leaving a legacy of 22 years of dedicated service to his community.

A four-year Navy veteran of the Korean War, and a retired research and development employee for Monsanto Corporation, Howard Shell first entered politics in 1984, winning an Atmore city council seat. After holding the post for just two years, he was appointed to serve out the remaining two years of the late Mayor Patricia McKenzie's term of office in 1986.

Mayor Shell's characteristic strong leadership was a natural fit as the city's chief executive. Consequently, he threw his hat into the ring, serving two consecutive terms as Atmore's duly-elected mayor from 1988 to 1996. In 2000, he reentered the mayor's race, returning to serve three more consecutive terms as Atmore's top office holder.

With more than two decades of his life invested in leading the city he loves, Mayor Shell has made a difference in the lives of the citizens of Atmore. He has presided over local economic growth and, more recently, has led efforts to extend the city's revenue base through new industrial and commercial recruitment along Interstate 65.

A dedicated and visionary leader, Mayor Shell has not only been Atmore's strongest advocate but also an active civic leader on regional, state and national levels. He has served on the National League of Cities' Economic Development Board, as well as the Alabama League of Municipalities, the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission Board of Directors, and the Jefferson Davis Community College Board of Advisors.

As he prepares to leave public office, I join with all the people of South Alabama in extending our heartfelt thanks for a job well done, as well as our very best wishes for all future endeavors. May he and his lovely wife, Nannette, find ample time to enjoy their two children, five grandchildren and great grandson as they open another rewarding chapter in their already rich lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Brown, 26, who lost his life on April 3, 2012, while defending our country. We are grateful for his service and we will always remember his sacrifice for our freedom.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Staff Sgt. Brown was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. On March 20, he was stationed in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Brown succumbed to injuries he sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol in Kunar Province.

Staff Sgt. Brown was on his third combat assignment since he enlisted in the Army in 2003. His previous service included a tour in Iraq from August 2004 to July 2005 and a prior tour in Afghanistan from June 2009 to May 2010.

Staff Sgt. Brown was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal.

Staff Sgt. Brown was a devoted soldier who loved his country and his loss is shared by all our community.

On behalf of the people of Alabama and a grateful nation, I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, Ariell Taylor-Brown, and their daughters, Charlie and Dilyn of Mobile, their unborn son, Carter Christopher, and their extended family.

You are all in our hearts and prayers during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide makes its second trip in three years to the White House to be honored as Bowl Championship Series National Football Champions.

On January 9, 2012, the Crimson Tide reclaimed the BCS National Football Championship with the University of Alabama's 21 to 0 shutout of the LSU Tigers in the New Orleans Superdome.

During a football season that many armchair quarterbacks claimed lacked drama due to the apparent domination of one team for much of the year, the final verdict was confirmation to Crimson Tide fans around the nation and throughout the world that Bama was simply the best.

In a land of many great traditions, football is uniquely American. The struggle to overcome and outlast your opponent for four quarters in one of the most physically challenging sports is what draws many of us to the game. Down South, we may not have written the first chapter in the book of football, but the Southeastern Conference has become the main character for the last six years.

By capturing the 2011 BCS title, the Alabama Crimson Tide can lay claim to 14 NCAA college football championships and the second in three years under Coach Nick Saban.

Going into New Orleans on January 9, the world of college football was divided over whether the unbeaten and number one LSU Tigers or the one-loss Crimson Tide would leave the Louisiana Superdome wearing the BCS crown. But for Bama fans the outcome was never in doubt. Both the Tigers and the Tide earned their journey to the final contest, but only the Crimson Tide came ready to play.

By halftime it was already apparent that victory for the Tide was in the offing and the third and fourth quarters only brought confirmation. The Crimson Tide offense scored 21 unanswered points and the Bama defense dominated the formerly mobile Tigers offense, holding them to just 92 total yards.

Once again, the BCS National Championship title returns to Tuscaloosa and the historic victory in New Orleans is not only a triumph for the Tide but a win for all football fans in the State of Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, I join the entire Bama nation in congratulating Coach Saban, his talented assistants, the staff, the team, their loyal families and Bama fans everywhere . . . Roll Tide!

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mobile City Council President Reggie Copeland who was recently named ``Mobilian of the Year'' by the Cottage Hill Civitan Club. I cannot think of anyone in our community who is more deserving of this high honor than Reggie.

Over 70 years ago, Reggie and his family moved to Mobile. He attended Murphy High School, Spring Hill College and the University of Alabama- Mobile Campus. During his school years, Reggie was a star athlete in football, basketball and softball. And as a young man, he developed a passion for athletics that not only taught him the value of sportsmanship, but instilled in him the very best qualities of success through teamwork.

After answering his county's call in the Korean conflict, Reggie returned stateside to embark on a long journey that would take him from the basketball courts to public office. After serving as a nationally recognized collegiate basketball official for 25 years and taking the role of executive with Alabama Power Company for an equal amount of time, Reggie found even greater challenges in leading the City of Mobile.

In 1985, he was elected to the Mobile City Council and has been re- elected six times. Currently, Reggie is in his second term as President of the City Council.

Among his long and storied history of community involvement, Reggie is credited with helping establish Mobile's Junior Miss Program, known today as the Distinguished Young Woman of America, and also helped bring the Magnolia Grove Golf Course, of the world-renowned RSA/Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, to town.

He also led the construction, and later expansion, of the Copeland- Cox Tennis Center, which bears his name, and is generally considered one of the finest public municipal tennis complexes anywhere in the country.

Councilman Copeland also played a major role in helping reestablish minor league baseball in our city with the construction of Hank Aaron Stadium, home of the Mobile BayBears.

Reggie's considerable accomplishments and recognitions include former President, Mobile Jaycees; former Vice President of Alabama Jaycees; President of the TB Health Association of Mobile County; Chairman of the Mobile County Red Cross Blood Drive; Chairman, United Way Commercial Division; President of the Southeastern Conference Basketball Officials Association; President of the Port City Basketball Officials Association of Mobile; Member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Board; Inducted into the Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame, Mobile; Inducted into the Spring Hill College Hall of Fame; Chairman of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, 1995-97; Chairman of the Little Sisters of the Poor Golf Tournament, 1995-2000; Inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, 1999; and member of the Board of Directors-Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.

Reggie also assisted with the Mobile Mystics Hockey franchise and is currently working to develop a world-class soccer complex in Mobile. He also played a major role in development of the Riverfront Park and the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center.

In short, it is safe to say that there are few individuals in Mobile's rich history, which has spanned more than three centuries, who have been a more positive force for change than Mobilian of the Year Reggie Copeland.

Although Reggie recently announced his intention to retire from elected office at the end of his present term, I know him far too well to believe that he is going to slow down for even a minute. Reggie Copeland is Mobile's own version of the Energizer Bunny, and our community, our region and our entire state are better places because of his tireless efforts and unselfish example.

Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for all Mobilians in expressing our gratitude for Reggie's enormous dedication to making Mobile second to none. We all wish him and his fine family, including his five children and 13 grandchildren, all the best. Congratulations on this well- deserved honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Louise Collins Johnson a former missionary and devoted servant of the Lord who turns 100 on March 30, 2012.

The year 1912 was a noteworthy one in history. It witnessed the first expeditions to discover the South Pole and the tragedy of the sinking of the HMS Titanic. It was also the year that Louise Collins entered the world to begin her long journey in the service of Christ.

Born in Chilton County, Alabama, Ms. Collins answered the calling of the Lord at the young age of 18 when she began teaching Sunday school. Nine years later she married Roy Johnson, and together they raised one daughter, Ann Johnson Tyrus, and shared 11 wonderful grandchildren.

Louise Johnson followed her faith to lead a life that would take her across Alabama and literally around the world. A devoted Baptist, her career included working for the Alabama Baptist Association before joining the staff of the State Assembly at Shocco Springs, Alabama, as well as working with the Southwide Assemblies at Ridgecrest, North Carolina, and Glorieta, New Mexico.

This was just the beginning, however, of her long journey in the service of the Lord. Soon after, she was called to serve needy Baptist churches in Oregon and Washington states. Her dedication to helping others also led her to serve two terms as a relief missionary in Hawaii. Her world travels then took her to mission points in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Japan, and Manila, Philippines.

In 1968, following the death of her husband, Louise Johnson moved to Gulf Shores, Alabama to live with her sister, Hazel Scruggs. For so many who have traveled to Baldwin County over the last 40 years, Hazel's restaurant in Gulf Shores is a well-known landmark.

During her time in Gulf Shores, Louise Johnson served as secretary of the First Baptist Church for eight years and Sunday school teacher of the Ladies IV Class at First Baptist for 36 years. She eventually moved to Prattville, Alabama where she now lives with her daughter, Ann. Even today, as she prepares to celebrate a century on this good earth, she continues to work and express her faith.

Louise Johnson has been and continues to be a dynamic, dedicated Christian spending her life teaching others about Jesus. On behalf of the people of Alabama, I wish to congratulate Ms. Johnson on her 100th birthday and wish for her many more years of happiness.

I thank the gentleman, and I join in the comments that have already been made in expressing our deep gratitude to a young man who, by many standards, is still a young man and who obviously has a very bright future in front of him, but who has decided to embark on a new chapter in his already storied career.

Tonight, Democrat and Republican, North and South, the dean of Congress--someone who has been here longer than many of us have been alive--and others who are coming tonight who are expressing their gratitude to a man named John Sullivan are all here to really offer our heartfelt thanks for the example you have set, for the inspiration you have provided, and for the legacy that you are leaving behind.

Many a young lawyer in this country--and John is an attorney as has already been noted--when asked who inspired them to go into law, into that

profession, cited a fictional character, someone of whom I am proud. The author of ``To Kill a Mocking Bird'' is from my home in Monroeville, Alabama, and the story is of Atticus Finch and of the example that he set in a very difficult time in our Nation's history. One of my favorite lines out of ``To Kill a Mocking Bird'' that Atticus said is: The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.

I believe that we can all agree that, while we have rules in this House and that no one more than the Parliamentarian helps us abide by those rules and to follow the spirit of them, John Sullivan has set the example of being an outstanding Parliamentarian by using the rule but also by using his heart and his conscience.

His rulings have sometimes been questioned, but never disputed in a real sense because his rulings and the rulings of the men and women who work with him have been seen as the gold standard by those of us who have been given the privilege of serving as Members of Congress. It truly is the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. If a ruling were appealed to the chair and if the chair turned to the Parliamentarian, as is often the case, we knew that the answer was as good as gold. He is truly the unbiased umpire who calls the balls ``balls,'' the strikes ``strikes,'' and who oftentimes has to tell us what we don't want to hear but what we need to know.

I am so honored to stand here tonight, along with my colleagues, to say thank you to someone who represents an army of professionals, of men and women over the years and throughout the decades whose names have never been on the ballot but who have made a lasting mark of love and support for this Institution. Some, like myself, have served on personal staffs. Others have served on committees, on committee staffs, and still a few others have had the privilege of wearing the title of Sergeant at Arms or Chaplain or, in this case, Parliamentarian.

He is a man whom we truly respect, someone who has truly made this place a better place. As Mr. Watt said earlier tonight, if the people back home who are watching this discussion tonight are hearing this debate, there is no debate. John Sullivan may not be a household name in some parts of America, but John Sullivan has made the House of Representatives a better place by his service and by his example.

Mr. LaTourette, I appreciate you and Mr. Dingell for hosting this Special Order for 1 hour in order for all of us to have a chance to say thank you for a job well done.

May God continue to bless you, your wife, and your family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Fernando Jorge, age 39, of Buena Park, California and to honor his service to our country.

CPO Jorge was one of four U.S. Coast Guard crewmen aboard a MH 65C Dolphin helicopter when it crashed into Mobile Bay on February 28, 2012, during an evening training mission. The accident claimed the lives of each of the crew.

CPO Jorge, a 20-year Coast Guard veteran and rescue swimmer, was stationed at the Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama at the time of the accident.

A devoted professional who dedicated his life to saving others, CPO Jorge was accustomed to the challenges of the sea. According to the Mobile Press-Register, CPO Jorge was featured on the History Channel's ``Extreme Search and Rescue'' program in 2004.

CPO Jorge and his fellow crewmen of CG 6535 each shared a love of service and a dedication to saving lives. The Coast Guard is a vital protector for our Nation's coastal communities. We can never thank them enough for their commitment to our country.

Mobile is a Coast Guard city and we suffer the loss of CPO Jorge as one of our own. We grieve with his family and we stand with them and the entire United States Coast Guard family.

To quote the words of the Coast Guard hymn,

Eternal Father, Lord of hosts,

Watch o'er the men who guard our coasts.

Protect them from the raging seas

And give them light and life and peace.

Grant them from Thy great throne above

The shield and shelter of Thy love.

On behalf of the people of Alabama and a grateful Nation, I offer condolences to CPO Jorge's family and many friends. You are each in our thoughts and prayers.