Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Dale T. Taylor, age 36, and to honor his heroic and tireless service to our country.

Lt. Cmdr. Taylor 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.

Lt. Cmdr. Taylor, a rescue pilot and father of two young sons, was stationed at the Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama. He and his family are active members of Cottage Hill Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.

An accomplished pilot who was devoted to saving lives, Lt. Cmdr. Taylor received the Coast Guard Medal in 2003 for heroism while heading a rescue mission near Key West, Florida. According to the award citation quoted by the Mobile Press-Register, Lt. Cmdr. Taylor braved rough seas to rescue a victim. ``Despite jeopardizing his own safety, Lieutenant Taylor grabbed the victim and with all his remaining strength swam to the basket and lifted the exhausted survivor to safety shortly before the survivor would have surely succumbed to the seas.''

Lt. Cmdr. Taylor 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 Lt. Cmdr. Taylor 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 Lt. Cmdr. Taylor's, wife, Teresa, and their sons, Evan and Emmett, as well as other family and many friends. You are each in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to U.S. Coast Guard LTJG Thomas John Cameron, age 24, of Portland, Oregon and to honor his service to our country.

LTJG Cameron was one of four U.S. Coast Guard crewmen aboard an 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.

A 2009 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, LTJG Cameron was stationed at the Coast Guard's Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama at the time of the accident.

According to the Mobile Press-Register, LTJG Cameron was only two days from completing flight certification at the time of the accident. After leaving Mobile, he was to have been assigned to USGC Station Borinquen at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

LTJG Cameron was known to his family, classmates and friends as a passionate athlete. He was an accomplished soccer player, serving as captain of his high school and college teams. Off the field, his passion also extended to helping others. His father, John Cameron, told the newspaper that his son's goal since 10th grade was to be involved in ``lifesaving work.''

It is not surprising to learn that LTJG Cameron 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 LTJG Cameron 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 LTJG Cameron's parents, John and Bette Cameron, as well as to his extended family and many friends. You are each in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Knight, age 26, of Thomasville, Alabama and to honor his devoted service to our country.

Petty Officer Knight, known by his family and friends as ``Drew'', 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.

A native of Southwest Alabama, Petty Officer Knight was stationed at the Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama where he served as a flight mechanic.

Petty Officer Knight 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.

I recently visited with Drew's parents to personally extend my deep sympathy for their tremendous loss. As I conveyed to them, growing up in Camden, which is not far from Thomasville, I know the Drew Knights of the world

are the ones that stand out in any setting--church, school, community, and country.

South Alabama suffers the loss of Petty Officer Drew Knight, a native son who loved his country and helping others. 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 Petty Officer Knight's mother and father, Ken and Becky Knight, his brother, Todd, as well as his extended family and many friends. You are each in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I bring to the attention of the House the news that a United States Coast Guard helicopter crashed last night in Mobile Bay during a training mission.

Early this morning I spoke by phone to Coast Guard Sector Commander Captain Don Rose in Mobile, where he informed me that one crew member had lost his life, and three others are missing. Search efforts for the missing crew have been under way through last night and today, and they are ongoing at this time near the crash site off Point Clear, Alabama.

Naturally, I offered to Captain Rose the praise and heartfelt sympathies of the Congress, as well as our entire Nation, not only to those immediate families of those brave Coasties, but to the entire Coast Guard family.

Whether during a hurricane, an oil spill, or one of their daily encounters with danger when conducting a search and rescue mission, the United States Coast Guard plays a vital role that we too often take for granted.

It is at times like this when we are reminded of the dangers they face in their service to our Nation. They are truly on the first line of protecting our country, and we can never thank them enough.

Mr. Speaker, I ask, at this time, that all Americans lift a prayer to the Good Lord for the loss of life that has occurred. May God's blessings and healing hand be on those left behind.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to shine the spotlight on a talented and dedicated group of young people from Southwest Alabama whose hard work and ingenuity have garnered them much-deserved national recognition.

On February, 7, 2012, students from Monroeville Junior High School's robotics team participated in the second annual White House Presidential Science Fair where they personally demonstrated their robotic creations for President Obama. From all reports, the President was duely impressed.

Monroeville Junior High was the only Alabama school and the only BEST school robotics team to receive an invitation to this prestigious national event.

Monroeville Junior High is one of 24 Alabama schools currently participating in the Boosting Engineering Science and Technology (BEST) program, which introduces students to engineering and technology and teaches the skills needed for today's high-tech workforce.

Monroeville Junior High has also competed in the Great Freight Robotics Challenge bringing home many awards including the 1st Place Five Star Award (overall winner). They also competed in the Jubilee BEST Robotics Competition in Mobile, winning several awards and qualifying to advance to South's BEST Regional Competition hosted by Auburn University. At that event, the team brought home the 3rd Place Engineering Notebook Award out of 50 champion teams from across the eastern half of the country.

After their visit to the White House last week, the students arrived on Capitol Hill where it was my honor to personally welcome them and talk to them about their achievements. These students have proven that age is no limitation to teamwork and success.

A special congratulations goes to each of the Monroeville Junior High robotics team

members: Morgan Ard, Sarah Baker Barnhardt, Andrew Cahill, Laken Cole, Tiara Dean, Jessica Feaster, Lindsay James, Kaitlyn Johnson, Octavia Johnson, Terrance Johnson, Ellissa Kidd, Jadarrius Kidd, Robert Knight, Maggie Ray, Jada Robbins, Desmond Stevens, and Titus Walker.

On behalf of the people of Alabama, a job well done, Monroeville Junior High!

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week the President sent his fiscal year 2013 budget request to Congress. It's been roundly panned as being ``not serious,'' ``inadequate,'' and ``political.''

But, Mr. Speaker, I want the American people to understand, in addition to all these assessments, the President's budget request is downright dangerous. House Republicans have begun a serious conversation with the American people about our debt, our out-of- control Federal spending, the unsustainability of mandatory spending, as well as our future.

But it's past time for this President and his party in Congress to join us in honestly acknowledging the real challenges facing our Nation and offering realistic solutions to put America back on the path to prosperity to ensure that our best days are still in front of us.

Sadly, the President's lack of leadership on these critical issues endangers not only the current economic recovery but the very future of our great Republic.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I'm pleased to join my colleagues today in support of this amendment.

Let's be clear: Today's amendment, even if adopted, is not the end of our efforts to make the gulf coast whole after the tragic BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill almost 2 years ago. But make no mistake: This amendment is critically important as a step toward that end.

The creation of the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund is absolutely essential if we're going to ensure that

the penalties paid by BP and the other responsible parties are set aside for future expenditure to remediate the long-term environmental and economic damage done to each of the five Gulf Coast States.

Mr. Chairman, the Federal Government should not benefit from the tragedy that occurred in our backyard. And I can't say enough, thanks to Chairman Hastings and his leadership for giving us this opportunity with this amendment for this broader effort.

I urge adoption of the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of Alabama's best known and most respected journalists, Mr. Alvin Benn, who this week is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alabama Press Association.

Perhaps there's a measure of irony in the fact that the man who has become synonymous with both covering and capturing Alabama history and culture, in a way that only a Southern native could, actually hails from the North. Al Benn was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country on April 25, 1940.

After graduating from Manheim Township High School in 1958, he enlisted in the Marine Corps where he served his country for six years. He was stationed at Cherry Point, NC with the Second Marine Air Wing and at Okinawa, Japan, where he worked for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. After returning stateside, he completed military journalism school at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and briefly attended East Carolina College while at Cherry Point.

His long journey chronicling the history of our region began as a newly minted correspondent for United Press International covering the burgeoning Civil Rights movement. As he details in his 2006 book, ``Reporter: Covering Civil Rights . . . and Wrongs in Dixie,'' Al Benn not only interviewed the major leaders of both sides of this historic struggle--including Dr. Martin Luther King and Governor George C. Wallace--but he used his fearless quest of news to take him to some of the most unsettling venues to get the unvarnished true story.

After two and a half years as UPI's Birmingham bureau chief, Al Benn took on the roles of writer, photographer, editor and publisher at newspapers in Alabama, including the Selma Times-Journal and the Montgomery Advertiser. He also crossed over the state line to work at the Natchez Democrat where he and his news staff were nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Although he officially retired in 2003, Al Benn continues to write his widely read column, ``Al Benn's Alabama'', for the Montgomery Advertiser.

In commenting about his life's work, Al Benn once observed: ``Journalistic integrity cannot be duplicated. That's all reporters really have. We never make much money. What we can leave behind is a good name in our chosen profession. I hope I've done just that. There are those who will disagree but I've tried to be as fair as I could be.''

I have never known a more professional, articulate and even-handed reporter than Al Benn. On behalf of the people of Alabama, I offer my congratulations to Al, and I wish him and his wife, Sharon, and their family a future full of happiness.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the service of a fallen hero, Officer Steven Green of the Mobile, Alabama Police Department, who recently gave his life in the line of duty.

On February 3, 2012, Officer Green, age 36, was fatally wounded while transporting a robbery suspect. Mobile feels the deep pain of the loss of this young, dedicated protector of the peace. His untimely death has deeply saddened our community and even moved others from around the nation to add their many voices to the long list of those offering condolences to his family.

Officer Green dutifully served the Mobile Police Department and the people of Mobile since May 2010. He was stationed to the Department in the First Precinct and was on assignment in the Fifth Precinct at the time of his death.

A native of Mobile, Officer Green was a graduate of Blount High School where he distinguished himself as an outstanding athlete and member of the Varsity Football team. After high school, he contributed his considerable athletic talents and love of sports to the service of young people by coaching Little League Football.

Mr. Speaker, there is a special calling for those who would lay down their lives to guarantee the safety of others. Those who answer this call to serve with courage and conviction often don't seek the limelight or reward . . . they do what they do because they know it is right. Officer Steven Green was just such a person.

Officer Green is survived by a very large and loving family, including his dear wife, Valerie, and their lovely children, Jasmine, Tariyah, and Steven, Jr.

On behalf of the people of Mobile and South Alabama, I offer my deepest condolences to each of them and to all of Officer Green's many family, friends and fellow officers. You will never be far from our hearts as we all reflect upon the devoted service of Officer Green. May God bless you all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to add my voice with many across South Alabama who are mourning the loss of a remarkable jurist who left an indelible mark on our community. Judge Virgil Pittman recently passed away at the age of 95.

Born in 1916 in Coffee County in Southeast Alabama where he picked cotton as a young man, the future state and federal judge spent his life devoted to fairness for all.

Before he began his legal journey, Judge Pittman graduated from Enterprise High School, the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama Law School. Upon completion of his studies, he served as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After three years with the Bureau, he answered his nation's call to service in World War II, donning the uniform of a United States Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade.

Returning stateside after the war, Judge Pittman practiced law in Gadsden, Alabama, for six years before assuming the post of Judge of Alabama's Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, a position he held for 16 years. In 1966, Judge Pittman exchanged his State Circuit judgeship robe for one on the federal bench after he was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson. His career as a federal judge encompassed service in the Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama, spanning 40 years.

In 1971, Judge Pittman became the chief judge of the federal court in Mobile. He was never one to shy away from taking tough positions that he believed were right. This made him unpopular with those who opposed his strong stance against Mobile's then citywide commission form of government. Judge Pittman believed the old system was unfair to non whites and those without political influence. He stood his ground and in the end prevailed.

There were times when Judge Pittman's rulings drew criticism from local politicians and the press, but his determination never wavered. The Mobile Press-Register recently editorialized that Pittman brought many changes to the city, noting he ``changed Mobile for the better and forever.''

If Judge Pittman was an outspoken advocate for civil rights and equal justice for our community he was also a man solely devoted to public service. In all, he sat on the bench for 55 years, taking great pride in his vocation and seeking little reward other than the knowledge that he did what was right.

On behalf of the people of South Alabama, I would like to extend my condolences to his wife, Lily Lea, their children, Karen, Lee, Joe, Walter, and Lea, and their many grandchildren and friends. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to former Mobile County Probate Judge and former State Senator Lionel ``Red'' Noonan, a much beloved citizen of South Alabama, who recently passed away at the age of 86.

When we think of a public servant, we often have a mental image of someone who dutifully performs their job over many years for the good of the people. While there are many public servants in our land, few can match the level of selfless dedication of Judge Red Noonan. He possessed an indomitable enthusiasm for life and for helping others. Always wearing a smile and always looking to make things better for our community, that is how he will be remembered.

A native of New Orleans, Judge Noonan soon made his way to Mobile where he attended Murphy High School. He distinguished himself early on as a gifted athlete, participating in an AAU tumbling competition at the 1934 Chicago World's Fair, and later stood out as a star player on the Murphy High football team. He was named to the All-City Team and Murphy's Hall of Fame.

Upon graduation in 1942, he joined the Navy, serving his country during World War II. After returning home from the war, he attended the University of Alabama where once again he put his athletic talents to good use. He was selected as starting fullback for the Crimson Tide for four seasons, and played in both the 1946 Rose Bowl and the 1948 Sugar Bowl.

After earning his bachelor's degree in 1950, Judge Noonan also pursued and received a law degree from the University of Alabama. He accomplished this goal while also serving as the University's freshman football coach. He later earned a Masters in Economics at Alabama.

After completing his education, he worked from 1953 to 1980 at Merchant's National Bank in Mobile where he served as a Vice President and Trust Officer. He ran successfully for Alabama State Senate District 24, holding office from 1971 to 1978. In 1983, he was elected Probate Judge of Mobile County, serving until his retirement in 2001.

During his public service, Judge Noonan was instrumental in the creation of the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and the construction of the Theodore Industrial Canal and the Alabama State Docks Bulk Material Handling Plant.

He didn't stop there, however. He served on numerous local and state organizations, including as President of the Alabama Probate Judge's Association, President of the Trust Division of the Alabama Bankers Association, President of the Estate Planning Council of Mobile, Member of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, member of the Mobile Racing Commission and President of the University of Alabama ``A'' Club, to name but a few. He was named to the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

To say Mobile will miss Judge Noonan's tireless leadership and exuberance for community service is an understatement. On behalf of the people of South Alabama I wish to extend condolences to his beloved wife of 61 years, Ruby Noonan of Fairhope, their children, Ruth, Rusty, Kelly, and grandchildren and many friends. You are all in our prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a man who may not be a household name in most American towns and cities but who, over the past two decades, has become an integral part of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Honorable Wilson ``Bill'' Livingood, our outstanding Sergeant at Arms, who will be retiring next month.

Known around the Capitol as the ``protector'' and ``keeper of the House,'' Bill Livingood has etched his name in the history books for serving the third longest term as Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives. To most Americans, he is the man--and the voice--who for 15 seconds every year announces at the beginning of the annual State of the Union address, ``Mr. Speaker, The President of the United States.''

Bill was first sworn in as House Sergeant at Arms by Speaker Newt Gingrich on January 4, 1995. He is only the thirty-sixth person to hold this post since the House of Representatives first met in New York City in 1789.

Bill Livingood's remarkable record of public service is even more noteworthy because of the unique experience he brought to the position. He was the first House Sergeant at Arms to possess considerable expertise in law enforcement, an asset that has served the House well during his tenure.

Prior to his appointment, he was Senior Advisor to the Director of the U.S. Secret Service from 1989 to 1995, and a Special Agent with the Secret Service for a total of 33 years. His background includes service on then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson's security detail, as well as spending more than a decade aboard Air Force One.

As an elected officer of the House of Representatives, the Sergeant at Arms is the chief law enforcement and protocol officer of the body, and is responsible for maintaining order on the House side of the United States Capitol complex.

The Sergeant at Arms reviews and implements all issues relating to the safety and security of Members of Congress and the Capitol complex. The Sergeant at Arms also coordinates extensively with the U.S. Capitol Police and various intelligence agencies to assess threats against Members of Congress and the Capitol complex.

Every visitor to the U.S. Capitol, whether it be the President of the United States, a foreign head of state or one of our youngest citizens, can roam safely around the vast Capitol complex because of Bill Livingood's professionalism, his dedication to duty and his considerable experience.

When this most recent chapter of American history is written, it will be noted that Bill served the House during some of the most challenging times in its history, including the 1998 shootings of two U.S. Capitol Police officers, the 9/11 attacks on our country, as well as the anthrax threats to Congress that came in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks. Make no mistake, House security has undergone significant improvements over the last decade

and Bill Livingood's contributions are evident in what is, today, a much safer environment for lawmakers, staff and the public here on Capitol Hill.

As an added tribute to his good stewardship of this important job, Bill served under four speakers, both Democrat and Republican, starting with Speaker Gingrich, then Speaker Dennis Hastert, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and our current Speaker, John Boehner. He and his office have been completely above reproach and non-partisan. To say that Bill Livingood is a consummate professional with a sterling reputation for honesty, integrity and class would be a fair way of describing the respect every Member of this House has for Bill.

Mr. Speaker, we are all indebted to Bill Livingood's stewardship and watchful eye over this historic chamber. As he prepares to leave the House in the coming weeks, I join my colleagues and the American people in offering him a hearty ``job well done'' and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer this tribute to Janice ``Teko'' Wiseman, a native of Mobile, AL, who recently passed away at the age of 83. She spent her life in active service to her community and her family.

Married for 62 years, Teko and her husband, Dr. Hollis Wiseman, originally met as high school sweethearts.

During the 1960's--a decade of turmoil in Alabama--Teko and Hollis set an example of courage and commitment to justice and the city they loved by founding ABLE (Alabamians Behind Local Education), an organization to help peacefully integrate the Mobile County schools. Although opposed by some political leaders at the time, the Wisemans stood fast and eventually saw their goals realized. Their efforts received international attention on a Voice of America broadcast.

In 1983, Teko helped found Keep Mobile Beautiful and worked as its coordinator for ten years. Her energy and creativity resulted in a beautification competition called No More Eyesore, which engaged residents from schoolchildren to bank presidents to clean up and beautify the ugliest eyesores around town. Other projects included planting the intersection of I-65 and I-10 and landscaping the entrance to Bankhead Tunnel. Her impact on the city is visible to this day.

When they retired twenty years ago, Teko and Hollis moved to Fairhope, Alabama. There, Hollis, who had built the University of South Alabama Neonatal Intensive Care Unit named in his honor, became president of the Fairhope Library Board and spearheaded the drive to raise approximately seven million dollars to build the current state of the art library.

Meanwhile, Teko Wiseman turned her attention to the lack of sidewalks along the Bay and conceived a project to building a hike/bike trail beginning at the Battleship on the Causeway and extending along the Eastern Shore to Weeks Bay. The organization she founded in 1995 to realize this dream, the Eastern Shore Trailblazers, has raised over $6.5 million through private donations and grants. The 32 mile trail is only two miles short of completion.

Mr. Speaker, Teko was a treasure to South Alabama and her loss is one that is shared by our entire community.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to her husband, Hollis; her sister, Merrellyn Miller; their six children, Holly Wiseman, Merrell Wiseman, Valery De Laney, Carole Norden, Jay

Wiseman, and David Wiseman; and their six grandchildren and many friends. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, with the American people looking on, Members of the House, once again, find ourselves in a waiting position--waiting and waiting and waiting on Senator Reid and his Democrat majority in the U.S. Senate as they decide whether they are going to let the government shut down tomorrow night at midnight; whether they are going to let tax relief for millions of Americans, middle class families, expire at the end of this month; whether they are going to let long- term unemployment benefits expire; and whether they are going to keep America's doctors from being hammered with a 27 percent increase on their Medicare reimbursement.

Mr. Speaker, the people's House is doing the people's work. As you know, we've passed 28 bills, all aimed at creating new American jobs. Sadly, all the majority on the other side of the Capitol seem able to do is poke sticks at what we've done, but they haven't offered a realistic option or passed a single thing.

Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking, and the American people are watching and waiting on the Senate to act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of Alabama's radio pioneers, Mr. Ben McKinnon, who recently passed away at the age of 89. An influential force in broadcasting throughout the Southeast, Ben was perhaps best known as the ``Godfather'' of Birmingham radio.

Born in Maxton, North Carolina, Ben graduated from the University of North Carolina with an AB in Journalism. As the nation became involved in the Second World War, Ben answered his country's call to duty by serving as a line officer in the U.S. Navy. Seeing action in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres, Ben led one of the major assault waves on Yellow Beach in Okinawa.

Upon returning home from the war, Ben traded his service pistol for a typewriter as editor of three weekly newspapers in his home county. But it wasn't long before his gaze turned toward the growing broadcast industry. He soon joined the staff of legendary Charlotte radio station WBT as local sales manager. Three years later he was hired as general manager of television station WGVL in Greenville, SC. His skills as a manager quickly brought him down to Alabama where he took the reins of Birmingham radio station WSGN. From that point on, he would call Alabama's largest city his home.

As vice president and general manager and later president of WSGN, Ben transformed the radio station into a dominant player in Birmingham and north Alabama broadcasting. Under his leadership, WSGN--known as ``The Big 610''-- thundered across the airwaves with the Magic City's first full-time ``top 40'' format. For those who listened to radio in the 50s and 60s, rock 'n roll was king. Under Ben's direction, WSGN proudly wore the crown in Birmingham radio and earned a spot as one of the nation's top rock 'n roll stations.

Upon his retirement after 28 years with WSGN, Ben remained a strong voice in the state's communications industry. As executive director of the Alabama Broadcasters Association, he was a frequent visitor to Washington, DC to advocate on behalf of our local radio and television stations. He led the ABA for 18 years before retiring a second time.

Mr. Speaker, Ben's awards and accomplishments are, frankly, too extensive to list here. He was active in numerous major Birmingham area community service organizations for decades, ranging from board member of the Jefferson County March of Dimes and the Birmingham Chapter of the American Red Cross, to president of the Jefferson County Chapter of the American Cancer Society--to name but a few.

His remarkable career and many contributions to society are further highlighted by an impressive array of recognitions including the Thad Holt Distinguished Broadcaster Award from the University of Alabama School of Communications, the Silver Plate Award from the South Carolina Association of Broadcasters, the Broadcaster of the Year Award from the Alabama Broadcasters Association, and the National Association of Broadcasters State Executive of the Year Award.

On behalf of the people of Alabama, I wish to offer condolences to Ben's daughters, Sharon Bruns, Ellen McKinnon and Lisa McKinnon; and grandchildren and many friends. You are each in our thoughts and prayers. Ben was well loved and will be sorely missed.