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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E21]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN MEMORY OF T. MOFFATT BURRISS, SR.
______
HON. JOE WILSON
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, beginning with Gov.
Henry McMaster lowering flags across South Carolina, tributes are being
made to honor the memory of T. Moffatt Burriss, Sr., who is an American
War Hero, business leader, pioneer of the modern Republican Party, and
devoted Family Man. I include in the Record the obituary from The State
on January 6, 2019:
Thomas Burriss Sr.
Chapin SC.--Thomas Moffatt Burriss, Sr. passed away on
January 4, 2019 at the age of 99. He was born in Anderson,
SC, on Sept. 22, 1919, to Frank Judson Burriss and Frances
Moffatt. He had two siblings, Frank J. Burriss, and Jean
Burriss Wattley, both now deceased.
Upon graduating from Clemson College in 1941, he moved to
Orangeburg and taught physics and science at Orangeburg High,
where he met his future wife, Louisa Righton Hay, of
Morristown, Tennessee.
When the war broke out on December 7, 1941, Moffatt was
called into the service at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he
volunteered for paratrooper training school. While on a two
week leave, he and Louisa were married on June 22, 1942, in
Morristown, IN., by Louisa's father, a Presbyterian minister.
In May, 1943, Moffatt's unit was ordered to North Africa to
prepare for the invasion of Europe and would not see his wife
again for two and a half years. Moffatt was involved in
almost every major World War II European battle including
Sicily, Italy, Holland, and Belgium.
In Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, Burriss's
company was the lead company in the famous Waal River
Crossing and the capture of the Nijmegen Bridge. As a company
commander, Captain Burriss's part in the battle was portrayed
in the movie A Bridge Too Far.
For his service during the war, he received the Silver
Star, three Bronze Stars, and Combat ``V'' for valor, the
Purple Heart, three Presidential Unit Citations, French
Fourragere, Belgium Fourragere, and the Dutch Lanyard.
After the war, Moffatt and Louisa moved to Columbia where
he taught school for a few years and then went into the
construction business.
In 1970, Moffatt and his three sons formed Burriss
Construction Company which was involved in major construction
projects throughout the southeast. He was active in numerous
civic and business organizations including the Executives
Association of Greater Columbia (EAGC) of which he was
president in 1964-65, a Board Member of Lions Club,
Presbyterian Home of SC, Medical Missions, SC Lottery
Commission, and as Executive Director of the Business and
Industry Political Action Committee (BIPEC). Moffatt was a
founding member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church where he
served as a ruling Elder.
In 1976, he was elected to the S.C. House of
Representatives where he served until he retired in 1991. He
was elected minority leader for nine of those years where he
was instrumental in building the present day Republican
Party. In 1989, he received the ``Order of the Palmetto''
from Governor Carroll Campbell.
In 2000, inspired and persuaded by his children, Moffatt
documented his war experiences by writing the book Strike and
Hold, a memoir of the 82nd Airborne in World War II.
In 2009, Moffatt was invited to Holland to participate in
the 65th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden in Nijmegen.
At the ceremony Mr. Burriss was recognized by the Queen of
Holland and the Mayor of Nijmegen and awarded the Nijmegen
Medal of Honor for his part in capturing the Nijmegen Bridge
in 1944. Mr. Burriss celebrated his 90th birthday by once
again parachuting at the original WWII battle site in
Holland.
Over the years, Moffatt and Louisa built their vacation
home at their beloved Lake Dogwood in Eastover, where he
enjoyed fishing in the lake. They also enjoyed vacations in
Montreat, N.C., where, even in his nineties, Moffatt helped
each of his four children build their own vacation homes.
In the early 70's, Moffatt faced the toughest battle of his
life when Louisa was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's
Disease. He courageously cared for her until her death in
1986. Moffatt was later blessed to marry Jean Wheelwright
Dooley, who had four grown children of her own, Richard,
John, Mary, and Michael. Jean died in 2010. He is survived by
his three sons and one daughter, John Hay Burriss (Becca),
Moffatt Burriss Jr. (Suzanne), Francis Burriss (Nancy), and
Louisa ``Weesa'' Burriss (Bob Toomey); twelve grandchildren,
Catherine Tuttle, John Burriss, Jr., Louisa Adam (Brian),
Elizabeth Teal (Bart), Alle Denny (Chris), Lisa Thornton
(Brian), Philip Prescott, Rich Prescott, Moffatt Prescott,
Rachel Burriss, Thomas Burriss III, and David Burriss
(Rebecca); and ten great-grandchildren, all who are grateful
and humbled to have shared the life of this honorable
gentleman.
The family would like to thank the staff at Lowman Home and
Lutheran Hospice for their compassionate care of Mr. Burriss
during his last two months.
A memorial service will be held at Lake Murray Presbyterian
Church, in Chapin, on Sunday, January 13, at 3:00. The family
will receive visitors at the church at the conclusion of the
service. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is
assisting the family. Memorials may be made to Lake Murray
Presbyterian Church, 2721 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin, SC 29063.
Memories and condolences may be shared at
ShivesFuneralHome.com.
____________________