August 3, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1433 

IN HONOR OF SAMUEL L. ODLE ON 

HIS RETIREMENT 

HON. ANDRE ́ CARSON OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today 

I rise to congratulate Samuel L. Odle on his 

retirement from Indiana University Health. IU 

Health is our state’s most comprehensive 

healthcare provider, encompassing twenty 

hospitals and health centers. U.S. News & 

World Report has named IU Health as one of 

the ‘‘Best Hospitals in America’’ for fourteen 

consecutive years—a laudable achievement 

and further evidence of Mr. Odle’s prowess as 

one of the very best health care executives in 

the Nation. For 31 years, Mr. Odle has worked 

to improve patient care and expand the reach 

of IU Health to underserved communities 

throughout Indiana. The establishment of the 

new IU Health Pathology Laboratory and Neuroscience Center are testament to his leadership and devotion to advancing the practice of 

medicine. 

In addition to spending long hours at IU 

Health and raising his three children, Mr. Odle 

has worked tirelessly on behalf of the United 

Way of Central Indiana, the Jordan Foundation, the Crossroads of America Boy Scouts 

Council, and the Methodist Health Foundation. 

Mr. Odle is more than just an outstanding 

executive, community leader and philanthropist. On a personal level, he has served 

as a role model for me and a source of inspiration for many years. Samuel L. Odle is a pillar in the community; he sets a fine example 

for all of us. 

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in 

honoring Sam Odle for his exceptional service 

to the 7th District of Indiana. I wish him the 

very best in his retirement, and look forward to 

working with him for many years to come. 

f 

OUR UNCONSCIONABLE NATIONAL 

DEBT 

HON. MIKE COFFMAN OF COLORADO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, 

on January 20, 2009, the day President 

Obama took office, the national debt was 

$10,626,877,048,913.08. 

Today, it is $15,907,138,660,280.97. We’ve 

added $5,280,261,611,367.89 to our debt in 

just over 3 years. This is debt our nation, our 

economy, and our children could have avoided 

with a balanced budget amendment. 

f 

IN HONOR OF SISTER MARY 

CECELIA HARRISON, FMS 

HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR. OF GEORGIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to pay tribute to an inspiring woman of 

faith, beloved educator and spiritual leader, 

Sister Mary Cecelia Harrison, FMS. Sister 

Cecelia will be retiring after 25 years of outstanding leadership as Principal of Mother 

Mary School in Phenix City, Alabama. On Saturday, August 4, 2012, Sister Cecelia will be 

honored with an appreciation luncheon at the 

Columbus Trade and Convention Center in 

Columbus, Georgia. 

Sister Cecelia, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, was born on May 7, 1937, the ninth 

child of Philip and Agnes Harrison’s ten children. In 1956, she entered the Franciscan 

Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual 

Help of Jamaica. She graduated from Boston 

College in Massachusetts in1966 and then assumed a variety of principalships in Jamaica 

and the Cayman Islands where she oversaw 

the increase of enrollment in several schools 

and was appointed Member of the Cayman Islands Board of Education by the Governor for 

seven years. 

In 1988, Sister Cecilia was assigned as 

School Principal and Program Coordinator at 

Mother Mary Mission School in Phenix City, 

Alabama at a time when the school was almost defunct. It had poor academic standing 

and low enrollment and plans were in place 

for its closing. Sister Cecelia was only too 

happy to take on this challenge. Within three 

years, Mother Mary School was thriving with 

increased enrollment, high academic standards and improved facilities. 

In her 25 years as Principal of Mother Mary 

School, Sister Cecelia has become an educational and spiritual mentor in the community. 

Not only does she contribute to the education 

of young minds but she also works to provide 

assistance to the needy within the community. 

Her generosity is flowing and never ending 

and her faith is strong and enduring. 

Mr. Speaker, one of the things I admire 

most about Sister Cecelia is her selfless determination to help others. While she was in the 

Cayman Islands, there was an area of land 

next to the school where she was Principal 

that was unusable because of its rocky and 

uneven terrain. Sister Cecelia wanted the children to be able to use this land for muchneeded recess so in any spare moment she 

had, she would go out there and pick up the 

rocks one by one herself. Her dedication inspired others to help and within a year, Sister 

Cecelia had the area leveled, graded and 

cleared of rocks for the children to enjoy. 

Proverbs 11:25 says, ‘‘A generous person 

will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be 

refreshed.’’ Sister Cecelia has given her life to 

God and dedicated herself to the service of 

others. She has been blessed in many, many 

ways and enjoys watching the children she 

has mentored and nurtured grow into good, 

generous and hardworking men and women of 

faith. 

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me 

today in paying tribute to Sister Mary Cecelia 

Harrison for her legacy of selfless life service 

and her 25 years of dedicated leadership to 

Mother Mary School and the surrounding community. 

A STORY OF RECOVERY FROM 

THE ALABAMA TORNADOES 

HON. SPENCER BACHUS 

OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, the State of Alabama will never forget the devastating tornadoes of April 27, 2011. 

But the story that has been told since that 

destructive day is an inspiring one of personal 

resilience and a resolve to rebuild neighborhoods and communities. 

A critical factor has been the commitment 

that employers have made to their communities. 

After a natural disaster of this scale, there is 

always a choice to confront: rebuild or relocate? 

An important part of the economic recovery 

efforts in Jefferson County was the decision 

made by Cliffs Natural Resources to rebuild its 

Oak Grove Mine and Concord Preparation 

Plant and remain as a strong presence in Alabama. 

The tornadoes caused significant damage to 

the mine preparation plant and overland conveyor system at the coal facility, an employer 

of more than 500 workers in the western portion of Jefferson County. It also disrupted the 

transportation system that Cliffs and other 

companies rely on to receive and move materials. 

Most critically, and thankfully, all employees 

were accounted for after the storms and no 

one was reported as injured. 

Even before the full magnitude of the recovery challenge facing Alabama became clear, 

company officials were already thinking about 

how quickly they could begin to resume operations. It soon became evident that this would 

entail the plant providing its own power and 

even building a new road. The company’s 

management and workers were undeterred. 

In spite of many daunting challenges, underground mining was restarted within two weeks. 

Within eight months, coal was again being 

processed to meet our nation’s energy demands. 

While planning for the long-term work needed for full capacity, the company responded to 

the emergency needs of the ravaged communities around it. Cliff’s donated $100,000 to the 

American Red Cross and another $60,000 to 

organizations serving storm victims in the immediate area. 

The Oak Grove operations marked a significant milestone on May 16, 2012 with a ceremony that highlighted the rebuilding of the 

Concord Prep Plant. This engineering and 

construction achievement represented a $52 

million investment and was accompanied by 

an additional $30 million investment in a new, 

LEED-certified mine portal facility. 

In all, Cliffs invested $120 million towards its 

Alabama operations and preserved more than 

500 jobs during a year when our state needed 

it the most. It is a tale of resilience, determination, and a strong work ethic that stands out 

as my state continues its recovery from the 

historic storms. 


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