HONORING DOLORES GRESHAM FOR HER REMARKABLE SERVICE TO WEST TENNESSEE; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 160
(House of Representatives - September 16, 2020)
Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Pages H4433-H4434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING DOLORES GRESHAM FOR HER REMARKABLE SERVICE TO WEST TENNESSEE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff) for 5 minutes.
Mr. KUSTOFF of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor a
terrific Tennessee leader, State Senator Dolores Gresham, who will be
retiring from public service this year.
My friend, Senator Dolores Gresham, has been a strong leader in west
Tennessee for many years, and I have great respect for her strong
career of service and her tireless leadership in education. Dolores
Gresham has been highly influential in the political, social, and civic
life in west Tennessee.
Before she entered public service as an elected official, Senator
Gresham proudly served our country as a member of the United States
Marine Corps and retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel.
A champion for education in Tennessee, Dolores Gresham presided over
and led the Tennessee State Education Committee during a time of great
improvement in academic achievement in the history of the Volunteer
State.
Senator Gresham has proved to everyone that citizens can make a
difference by being involved in community service and by leading by
example.
Roberta and I wish her and her husband, Will, the best in their
retirement. We appreciate her friendship, and we greatly appreciate her
public service to the Volunteer State.
Honoring Andy Holt for His Strong Service to West Tennessee
Mr. KUSTOFF of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my
friend and Tennessee State Representative Andy Holt. Andy is retiring
this year from the Tennessee State legislature.
Representative Andy Holt has been a leader and an outspoken voice in
the Tennessee State House since his first term began in 2011.
Representative Holt's work on the Agriculture and Natural Resources
Committee, his involvement with the Tennessee Farm Bureau--and I can't
forget his famous Hogfest--were all critical in bringing national
attention to west Tennessee's agricultural community.
Andy has served as a member of the Finance, Ways and Means
Subcommittee, which is a vital committee that helps craft the Tennessee
State budget.
Andy Holt has also been a strong voice in the Tennessee State Capitol
and has never shied away from speaking and living out his values.
He was part of numerous monumental pieces of legislation, such as the
enhanced concealed carry permit and the heartbeat bill, and helped
successfully repeal a portion of the Tennessee professional privilege
tax.
No matter the politics of an issue, Andy Holt always stood up for
what he believed in and always put his west Tennessee family values
first.
I am honored to call Andy Holt a friend of mine. He truly understands
and cares about the needs of Tennesseans, and he will be sorely missed
in the Tennessee State legislature.
Roberta and I wish Andy, his wife, Ellie, and his entire family well
as he leaves the stage of public service. I thank Andy for his faithful
service to west Tennessee, to Tennessee State government, and to the
State of Tennessee.
Honoring Mrs. Suzette Mink's Public Service to West Tennessee
Mr. KUSTOFF of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize
Suzette Mink, from Millington, Tennessee, for her strong service to
Shelby County government as she is set to retire in a few weeks.
Suzette's service to Memphis and Shelby County started in 1985 when
she began working for the Shelby County Trustee's Office. From there,
she
[[Page H4434]]
worked for the Shelby County general sessions court clerk, the general
sessions criminal court judges' office, and then the general sessions
civil court judges' office, where she will retire after 17 years of
faithful service to these judges.
In 2019, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris awarded Suzette with the
Shelby County Shining Star Award. This award is given to someone who
has shown exemplary dedication to their job within Shelby County
government, and this award was much deserved.
I know I speak on behalf of all of Memphis and Shelby County, and the
judges, when I thank Suzette for her service to our community. When I
think of true public servants, we talk about people like Suzette.
I wish her and her husband, Derrick, the best in their retirement.
____________________