E1444 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 3, 2012 

HAPPY 108TH BIRTHDAY MRS. 

LUCY SPELLER 

HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON 

OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

ask the House of Representatives to join me 

in recognizing Saturday, August 4, 2012, the 

108th birthday of native Washingtonian, Mrs. 

Lucy Speller. 

Affectionately known as ‘‘Aunt,’’ and ‘‘Sister,’’ Mrs. Lucy Speller was born in 1904, was 

married for 76 years, and is a lifelong resident 

of the District of Columbia. As a Sunday 

school and Vacation Bible School teacher at 

Calvary Episcopal Church, Lucy Speller demonstrated her love of the District’s children by 

touching their hearts and cultivating their 

minds. Students of Mrs. Speller often recall 

her kind-hearted nature and the guidance and 

support that she offered through the years. 

Many residents also celebrate Lucy Speller’s 

work as a professional planner for weddings, 

anniversaries, birthdays, and numerous other 

functions. She even planned her own golden 

wedding anniversary. 

I ask the House to join me in recognizing 

the 108th birthday of Mrs. Lucy Speller, a special lady, whose service to our community is 

greatly appreciated. 

f 

RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MACEDONIA BAPTIST 

CHURCH, HURON, OHIO 

HON. MARCY KAPTUR 

OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the centennial anniversary of Macedonia 

Baptist Church, located in Toledo, Ohio. The 

congregation will celebrate this milestone 

event on August 25, 2012. 

Since its founding in 1912, Macedonia Baptist Church has served its congregation and its 

community inspired by Christ’s teachings as 

recorded in Matthew 25:40 that, ‘‘Whatsoever 

you do to the least among you, that you do 

unto me.’’ Its ‘‘rich history of service began on 

Yondota Street on the East side of Toledo’’ 

where the church originally stood and continues to the present day from its location in 

West Toledo. 

Through a century of service the church has 

been a neighborhood mainstay. In addition to 

worship services, Macedonia Baptist Church 

members teach fellowship and provide services to families in need. Motivated by their 

servants’ hearts and strong pastoral leadership, the church carries forth a tradition of 

reaching out. All are welcome into the faithfilled, inspired congregation. We proudly commemorate this 100th anniversary while looking 

forward to Macedonia Baptist Church’s future. 

HONORING GRAY’S GENERAL 

STORE 

HON. DAVID N. CICILLINE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, since 1788, 

Gray’s General Store has served customers in 

Rhode Island. For seven generations the 

Waite family has owned what is considered 

the oldest general store in the Nation. Gray’s 

General Store closed its doors for the final 

time last Sunday. 

This store has been a cultural cornerstone 

for more than two centuries in Little Compton, 

a town in my district which itself was established in 1682. 

Since 1879, the Waite family has owned 

and operated Gray’s General Store allowing 

generations of Rhode Islanders to have a 

place to share an ice cream and a laugh. 

Despite the tremendous loss the community 

will face, I extend my well wishes to the 

present owner, Jonah Waite, as he transitions 

into a new chapter of his life. 

I Honor Gray’s General Store for its place in 

the history of Little Compton. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO ARTHUR E. ‘‘GENE’’ 

GOLDMAN ACTING DIRECTOR, 

NASA’S MARSHALL SPACE 

FLIGHT CENTER 

HON. ROBERT B. ADERHOLT OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, August 3, 2012 

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like 

to pay tribute to Arthur E. ‘‘Gene’’ Goldman, 

Acting Director of NASA’s Marshall Space 

Flight Center, on the occasion of his retirement from NASA and his 28 years of distinguished federal service. Mr. Goldman provided 

superb leadership to over 5,000 personnel 

across a wide variety of disciplines, and provided sound fiscal management of a $2.5 billion budget. With those resources, he 

achieved cutting edge advancements in 

launch systems, spaceflight vehicles, and the 

supporting research and development efforts. 

All of these will shape our great nation’s space 

program for years into the future. 

Mr. Goldman was born and raised in Russell, Mississippi, where he was introduced and 

attracted to the awe of space when his father 

took him out one night and showed him the 

Echo satellite passing overhead. With that inspiration and desire to learn, he graduated 

from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering 

and thereafter earned his Registered Professional Engineer-Civil certification, with the intention of building bridges. Although he never 

physically built a bridge, he certainly built, 

mended and maintained a multitude of bridges 

among NASA components, stakeholders and 

customers. 

While at NASA, Mr. Goldman also held the 

positions of Deputy Director of Marshall Space 

Flight Center; Director and Deputy Director of 

Stennis Space Flight Center; Manager and 

Deputy Manager of the Space Shuttle Main 

Engine Project; and project engineer on the 

Marshall Shuttle Project Integration Office. He 

was assigned to the Senior Executive Service 

in 2004. Prior to joining NASA in 1990, he 

worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority for 

6 years and in the nuclear power industry. 

During his tenure, Mr. Goldman was awarded the prestigious Presidential Rank Award in 

2010, the NASA Outstanding Leadership 

Medal in 2007, the Exceptional Achievement 

Medal in 2002, the NASA Certificate of Appreciation in 1997, and the Marshall Space Flight 

Center Director’s Commendation in 1992. He 

also completed the Senior Executive Fellows 

Program at Harvard University. 

Mr. Goldman is widely known and appreciated throughout NASA for treating every single person he encounters with utmost respect 

and value, regardless of their function. His 

strategic guidance, sage advice and leadership have brought him unqualified success 

and significant positive impact on NASA’s mission. With extraordinary and sincere gratitude, 

I thank Mr. Goldman for his dedicated service 

and outstanding contributions to our country. I 

wish Mr. Goldman all the best as he retires 

from NASA, and may God bless him, his wife 

Nancy, his daughter Jennifer, and his entire 

family in the days ahead. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO FIRST SERGEANT 

HECTOR SOTORODRIGUEZ FROM 

THE UNITED STATES MARINE 

CORPS HOUSE LIAISON OFFICE 

HON. MIKE COFFMAN OF COLORADO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, August 3, 2012 

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, 

today I recognize and pay tribute to First Sergeant Hector Sotorodriguez United States Marine Corps, on the occasion of his transfer 

from the United States Marine Corps House 

Liaison office back into the Fleet Marine 

Force. First Sergeant Sotorodriguez has 

served our great Nation for many years, earning many decorations and awards. I, and 

many other members of this chamber, have 

had the pleasure of working with him over the 

past two and a half years that he has served 

as part of Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps 

Office of Legislative Affairs, OLA, Fellow and 

as the Senior Staff Non-Commissioned Officer 

In Charge of the House OLA liaison office. 

First Sergeant Sotorodriguez distinguished 

himself through exceptional meritorious service while serving as the Senior Staff NonCommissioned Officer In-Charge of the Marine 

Corps House Liaison office. Every day he 

served in direct support of not only the Marine 

Corps Office of Legislative Affairs but in direct 

support of every member of Congress, every 

Marine and every American. His keen abilities 

in organization, interpersonal relationships, 

and communication were extremely critical to 

the successful accomplishment of the Marine 

Corps mission. His achievements and ability to 

get the job done have been understated but 

always effective and noteworthy. While serving 

in the Liaison office, First Sergeant 

Sotorodriguez was able to develop and execute legislative strategy for the United States 

Marine Corps. This strategy was instrumental 

in creating a shared understanding between 

congress and the Marine Corps, allowing leadership the ability to train and equip the Nation’s most elite fighting force, ensuring their 


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