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[Page S5192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
______
TRIBUTE TO LARRY ROBERTSON
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize my
friend Larry Robertson, a dedicated servant to the great people of West
Virginia. After 20 years, Larry will be retiring from his post as
executive director of HospiceCare, in my hometown of Charleston, WV. As
a lifelong residence of the State capital city, Larry dedicated his
career to caring for those in his area. He hasn't moved around much,
with his office only a mile or two down the road from the fill station
his father worked at when he was just a boy.
After graduating from George Washington High School, Larry stuck
around the Kanawha River Valley and enrolled in Morris Harvey College,
which is now known as the University of Charleston. With his bachelor's
degree complete and after earning a master's in accounting from the
West Virginia College of Graduate Studies in 1976, he set his sights on
ways to give back to the community that had already given him so much.
This commitment led Larry to take a job as a controller for the Blue
Cross Medical Plan in Charleston.
From this point on, Larry would spend the entirety of his
professional life committed to providing financial support and
administrative services to not-for-profit organizations in the
healthcare field. In the past 20 years, HospiceCare has flourished
under Larry's leadership, providing over 300 jobs and services to 16
counties in West Virginia. Larry and HospiceCare also provide the
community with an avenue to give back to those in need, garnering
hundreds of volunteers throughout the years. There is an old saying
that says there is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer, but
I believe Larry's ``Hospice Heart'' is even stronger.
Larry has also been instrumental in the foundation and the success of
West Virginias first inpatient hospice center, the Hubbard Hospice
House. This project started out with only enough space and staff to
accommodate 12 residents, but has grown exponentially under the vison
of Larry and his dedicated team. By the end of this year, the Hubbard
Hospice House operation will be able to house 56 beds in several
locations across central West Virginia. I became familiar with hospice
during the last stage of my parents lives. The support and dedication
they give to their patients is a wonderful lifeline for families and
caregivers. I am incredibly indebted to Larry and his staff for their
professional services. Hundreds of families in Kanawha County and the
surrounding area feel the same and share the same appreciation for the
care hospice gave their family members. Thank you, Larry, for your
dedication to building such a quality healthcare provider for end of
life care that is so highly regarded throughout the State and region.
Larry will now have more time to spend with his grandchildren, watch
the West Virginia Mountaineers, and work on his golf game, but the
lasting effects for what he did for our State will continue on for
generations to come. I wish Larry all the best in his retirement, as he
continues to make a difference in his community with his one-of-a-kind
attitude and generous heart. It is truly an honor to call you friend
and fellow West Virginian.
____________________
