E1278 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 18, 2012 

We have been honored to work with Sergeant 

Major Coon, and thank her for extraordinary 

service to our nation. 

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HONORING CHERRY MATHIS 

HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON OF MISSISSIPPI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a young woman 

whose commitment to her academics has 

earned her this recognition. 

Ms. Cherry Mathis. Ms. Mathis is a straightA honors graduate of Charleston High School 

in Charleston, Mississippi. 

She has been consistent in maintaining the 

highest average in nearly all of her courses 

throughout high school. Her grade point average is an astounding 4.1, which gives her the 

highest average among her peers in the 

twelfth grade. As a result of her studious feat, 

Ms. Mathis was designated as the Valedictorian of the Charleston High School Class of 

2012. 

Receiving this honor implies that Ms. Mathis 

is incredibly hard working, and dedicated to 

her education. She has earned numerous 

awards and distinctions such as being inducted into the National Honor Society and 

the National Society of High School Scholars. 

However, her proudest accomplishment was 

being named as a National Merit Scholar. In 

addition to her academic responsibilities, Ms. 

Mathis has also held leadership positions in 

several school organizations including the 

Yearbook Club, the Fellowship of Christian 

Athletes, Science Club, and Student Council. 

Ms. Mathis plans to attend the University of 

Mississippi where she will major in Integrated 

Marketing Communications. She believes that 

obtaining this degree will be a primary tool in 

achieving her future goals. 

Mr. Speaker, I ask our colleagues to join me 

in recognizing Ms. Cherry Mathis for her outstanding academic achievements. 

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PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ OF ILLIONIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent in the House chamber for 

votes yesterday. I would like the record to 

show that, had I been present, I would have 

voted ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall votes 469 and 470. 

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HONORING THE DEDICATED 

SERVICE OF SOL FLORES 

HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, last 

week the White House honored leaders who 

have made a significant difference in the way 

their communities combat homelessness 

among children and youth. I am pleased that 

one of the 13 ‘‘Champions of Change’’ is Sol 

Flores, Executive Director of La Casa Norte in 

Chicago. 

Nearly one million American men, women 

and children are currently homeless. That is 

simply unacceptable, but progress is being 

made. Because of Sol’s leadership of La Casa 

Norte, the city of Chicago—and the Humboldt 

Park neighborhood in particular—has seen a 

significant reduction in homelessness. 

Since founding La Casa Norte 10 years 

ago, Sol has made it her mission to serve 

youth and families facing homelessness. La 

Casa Norte’s continuum of services to assist 

children, young adults, and families has proven incredibly successful. Eighty-four percent of 

youth leaving La Casa Norte’s transitional 

housing program find permanent housing, and 

87 percent of families who receive homeless 

prevention assistance maintain housing stability. The organization is a recognized leader 

in effective homeless prevention in the Chicago area and across the country. 

I thank Sol Flores for her tireless efforts to 

promote stable homes and stable communities, and I wish her continued success. Her 

leadership of La Casa Norte and dedication to 

eradicating homelessness are worthy of her 

distinction as a ‘‘Champion of Change.’’ 

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RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF 

BRINTON W. OVERHOLT, SR. IN 

THE UNITED STATES ARMY 

HON. DAN BURTON OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

tonight to honor an outstanding Hoosier for his 

patriotism and service during World War II. 

Brinton W. Overholt, Sr., 90-years young this 

year, served with honor in the United States 

Army from 1944–1946. Trained stateside at 

Camp Blanding, Fort Meade, and finally Camp 

Shanks; Brinton was eventually shipped overseas to support the Allied march liberation of 

France. Landing in Le Havre, France, Brinton 

was assigned as a casualty replacement for 

the 106th Division, 423rd Battalion, Squad 4 of 

the 3rd Platoon. The 106th Division served 

with distinction in France; helping to trap some 

20,000 German soldiers around St. Lazare; a 

vital submarine base near Paris. Of the Division’s original compliment of 1500 soldiers; 

only 88 would survive the war. 

Shooting the 81 mm mortar, Mr. Overholt 

served in the Heavy Weapons Unit. Later, he 

would become the squad leader, directing the 

shots of the mortar men. While Overholt was 

still in France, Nazi Germany surrendered; 

and the 106th Division became part of the 

United States Army of Occupation in Germany. 

The American soldiers moved into German 

houses and Brinton Overholt was assigned the 

of taking inventory of the household so that if 

the U.S. soldiers broke anything or if something went missing, our government would replace it. Brinton was in the midst of an inventory when an officer informed him that he was 

going to be shipped out to the Pacific for the 

invasion of Japan. Fortunately, for Brinton and 

the Japanese, Brinton was granted a 30- day 

furlough in the U.S., before his rotation to 

Japan and the war would be over before his 

furlough ended. 

Brinton spent the rest of his military career 

at Camp Campbell in Kentucky. (now called 

Fort Campbell) where he served as a medic’s 

and Chaplain’s Assistant to special troops. 

Brinton would in fact serve under three different Chaplains over the time he was there— 

including Chaplain John Brown. 

If you ask him about his service during the 

war, Brinton will tell you quite honestly and 

matter-of-factly, that he doesn’t consider himself a hero, just a kid who served his country 

because it was the right thing to do. I ask my 

colleagues to join with me today to honor and 

thank Brinton W. Overholt Sr.; because it is 

the right thing to do. 

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RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND 

ACHIEVEMENTS OF JAZZ GREAT 

BEN KYNARD 

HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise 

today to pay tribute to Ben Kynard, the great 

jazz saxophonist, whose musical performances, jazz compositions, and great legacy 

continues to enrich the lives of so many jazz 

enthusiasts. 

Kansas City jazz has become a worldwide 

staple. It was born in a town where, as the 

great Monarch manager, Buck O’Neal, said, 

‘‘Everything was wide open.’’ No one knows 

how many nightclubs and cabarets were in operation during the 1930s. The clubs were 

packed and the great musicians were working—and playing. In those ‘‘hot’’ clubs, Mary 

Lou Williams, the jazz pianist, said that Kansas City was, ‘‘A heavenly city . . . musicians 

everywhere.’’ Indeed, they were. Among them 

was the soft spoken saxophonist Ben Kynard, 

who as a teenager, migrated to Kansas City 

from Arkansas. 

Ben Douglas Kynard was born in Eureka 

Springs, Arkansas, on February 28, 1920, to 

Bennett and Amelia Kynard. When he was just 

seven years old, his mother passed away. 

Three years later, his father remarried, moving 

the family to Kansas City. He learned first to 

play the horn, and later the saxophone, from 

his older brother B.C. Kynard began to play 

professionally in 1938 at the age of eighteen, 

performing in night clubs in Kansas and in 

country clubs with his companion, Celester 

White and later Oliver Todd’s band, known as 

the Hottentots. 

Kynard later joined the U.S. Army, where he 

played in a military band, one that frequently 

played at officers’ clubs and funerals. After returning to Kansas City, he joined Lionel Hampton’s band and traveled the country with the 

group from 1946 until 1953. He wrote ‘‘Red 

Top,’’ which is still a jazz favorite, while on 

tour in Newark, New Jersey. He named it after 

his wife Joyce, whom he married in 1953 and 

had red hair at the time. After seven years 

with the band, Kynard left and returned to 

Kansas City, where he worked for the United 

States Postal Service for thirty-two years, still 

playing jazz in the evenings. He also maintained his career as a jazz composer, writing 

music for himself and other local musicians. 

One of the highlights of my life was the 

evening my father-in-law, who lived directly 

across the street from Mr. Kynard, introduced 


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