E1380 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 1, 2012 

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring 

the life of this proud veteran, American patriot, 

family patriarch and role model, Anı ́bal De 

Jesu ́s Rodrı ́guez. I know he will be greatly 

missed by those who had the privilege to 

know him. But I also know that he will never 

be forgotten. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO T. RANDOLPH COX 

HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO OF WEST VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

recognize the lifetime accomplishments of my 

friend, T. Randolph ‘‘Randy’’ Cox, who is 

being honored by the YMCA of the Kanawha 

Valley as its 2012 Spirit of the Valley recipient. 

Unfortunately Randy is being recognized post 

mortem as he passed away on his birthday, 

October 19, 2011, while participating in one of 

his favorite athletic sports, the game of 

squash. 

Raised in Princeton, New Jersey, Randy attended the University of Virginia as an undergraduate, the University of Massachusetts 

completing an MBA, and the University of 

Miami, where he completed his law degree 

and met his wife and lifelong partner, Ann. 

Randy and Ann moved to West Virginia and 

each became members of the law firm of 

Spilman, Thomas & Battle. Randy’s practice 

included environmental, telecommunications 

and corporate law, with a primary focus on 

government relations and insurance regulatory 

matters. Randy was well respected as a member of his firm and for his work throughout 

West Virginia’s legal community. 

Randy was also committed to serving the 

Kanawha Valley and his state, by giving back 

to the region where he resided and raised his 

family. He served in leadership roles with a 

number of local charitable, civic and philanthropic organizations, most notably, the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation as its former 

chairman of the board, the West Virginia 

Chamber of Commerce as its former chairman 

of the government relations committee and 

board of directors, and lastly, the Charleston 

YMCA, who is honoring him as its 2012 Spirit 

of the Valley recipient, having served as its 

chairman of the board. At the time of his 

death, Randy was serving as President of 

Edgewood Country Club where he spent his 

leisure time on the golf course or squash 

court. Randy was truly a versatile and talented 

man whose life was cut too short. 

The Spirit of the Valley award specifies that 

its recipient be, ‘‘. . . a person who quietly 

gives of themselves, their time and their resources when the Valley’s citizens need them. 

Their commitment, persistence, good judgment and joyful heart only enrich the fabric of 

life in our Valley.’’ There is no question that 

Randy certainly embodies these good character traits and is most deserving of this esteemed honor. I am just sorry that he cannot 

be with us as we honor him. 

In addition to his wife, Ann, Randy leaves 

behind two children, Thomas and his wife, 

Brittany, and his daughter Erin, whom he truly 

loved. 

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to speak to the 

accomplishments of T. Randolph ‘‘Randy’’ 

Cox, for the level of devotion to his family and 

his dedication to community service which 

makes Randy most deserving of the honor of 

the YMCA’s Spirit of the Valley. I am honored 

to call him my good friend and the Kanawha 

Valley is fortunate to remember him as one of 

their own. 

f 

MR. DAVID M. DONNINI 

HON. LOU BARLETTA OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

honor David M. Donnini who will be sworn in 

as President of UNICO National in August 

2012. Founded on October 10, 1922, UNICO 

National is the largest Italian-American service 

organization in the United States. During its 

outstanding history, the group has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help countless 

people and numerous charities. 

Mr. Donnini, a former Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania resident, joined the Wilkes-Barre 

Chapter of UNICO National in 2001. He was 

exceptionally active in committee work within 

the chapter and held numerous positions including treasurer and first elected vice president. In 2005, he relocated to Redondo 

Beach, California, and continued to dedicate 

his time to UNICO National by joining the Los 

Angeles Chapter. Due to his hard work, a year 

later, he was elected chapter president and 

served in this role from 2007 to 2008. To further aid the community, he founded the annual 

Italian Festival and Bocce Ball tournament in 

Hawthorne, California, to benefit the Jimmy V 

Foundation for Cancer Research. 

It is an honor to recognize Mr. Donnini and 

his involvement in an organization that has 

given so much to the community. I have had 

the esteemed privilege of attending many 

UNICO events in my congressional district, including pig roasts and charity events, and 

proudly witnessed the positive impact the 

group’s efforts have made in my community. 

I congratulate Mr. Donnini on this major accomplishment and look forward to seeing how 

his leadership impacts Italian-Americans and 

the thousands of people who benefit from this 

fine organization. 

Mr. Speaker, I commend David M. Donnini 

for his years of committed service to UNICO 

National and his readiness to serve the needs 

of Italian-Americans across our Nation and in 

northeastern Pennsylvania. 

f 

AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL LOGISTICS AND CAPABILITY OF 

AZERBAIJAN TO SUPPORT U.S. 

MILITARY REQUIREMENTS 

HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO OF GUAM

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 

to bring to the attention of my colleagues a 

very important matter that our military will 

soon face; the logistics of withdrawing our 

servicemembers and supplies from Afghanistan. 

Some 90,000 servicemembers, 100,000 

shipping containers and 50,000 vehicles will 

need to be transported out of Afghanistan by 

the end of 2014 when U.S. and NATO major 

combat operations come to an end. This accumulation has occurred over a decade and the 

logistics to drawdown will be monumental. 

Adding to this challenge is the instability of 

what has been the primary transit route which 

relies on the cooperation of Pakistan. Pakistan 

only recently reopened the transit routes after 

having closed them in late 2011. We must 

have safe, reliable, and secure alternative 

ways to move our servicemembers and supplies. 

Azerbaijan is one of several options that 

provides a reliable transit route for over 40% 

of non-munitions supplies to Afghanistan and 

with the announced closing of Transit Center 

at Manas (formerly Manas Air Base) in 

Kyrgyzstan, this route will be ever more important. 

Azerbaijan has been a strategic partner and 

key ally in our efforts to combat global terrorism. Azerbaijan was among the first Muslim 

countries to send troops to Afghanistan and 

Iraq as well as provide flyover rights to our 

military. 

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me 

in thanking Azerbaijan for their friendship and 

partnership. I hope we continue to work with 

Azerbaijan to make certain our 

servicemembers have a safe and secure route 

for the supplies they need for their well-being 

while we are still in Afghanistan. It is also essential that we continue to partner with Azerbaijan to ensure we have reliable ways to 

safely withdraw by the end of 2014. 

f 

IN HONOR OF THE LAWNSIDE 

VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NO. 1 

HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

honor the Lawnside Volunteer Fire Company 

No. 1 for its tireless efforts protecting and 

serving the residents of Lawnside over the last 

100 years. At this great milestone, I recognize 

the heroic work of these individuals who routinely place themselves in harm’s way for the 

greater good of the community. These volunteers serve as vanguards of safety and stability, performing necessary duties that few are 

willing to undertake. 

Since its humble beginnings in 1912 with 

only a small fire hall and single Model T Ford, 

the Lawnside Volunteer Fire Company has 

found growth through determination and community initiative. Through fundraising and the 

awarding of federal grants, the Lawnside Fire 

Company steadily grew its fleet of emergency 

vehicles, providing greater lifesaving assistance to the Lawnside community. The 

Lawnside Fire Company has also gained 

statewide recognition as a premiere company, 

having won a series of awards at the annual 

New Jersey Firemen’s Convention. 

Mr. Speaker, Lawnside Fire Company’s contributions and endless dedication to the 

Lawnside community should not go unrecognized. I join the citizens of Lawnside and all of 

Camden County in honoring the achievements 

of this exceptional fire company. 


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