E2202 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 2, 2008 

CONGRATULATING EASTERN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL’S CLASSES OF 

1957, 1958 AND 1959 ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 50TH YEAR 

CLASS REUNION 

HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

in honor of the Eastern High School graduating classes of 1957, 1958, and 1959. 

These alumni will be remembered in the history of our country as the first African Americans to attend classes that were no longer 

segregated in the District of Columbia after the 

Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of 

Education. The courage and determination 

shown by these pioneers when they were 

teenagers were harbingers of the success, 

professional achievement, and exemplary lives 

that have characterized the classes of 1957, 

1958, and 1959. 

I ask the House to join me in honoring the 

50th anniversary classes of 1957, 1958, and 

1959 at Eastern High School in the Nation’s 

capital. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES 

COAST GUARD AS THE HONORED 

SERVICE AT MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY AT EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY 

HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today before you to pay tribute to the United 

States Coast Guard, who will be the honored 

service on October 18th, 2008, during Military 

Appreciation Day at East Carolina University’s 

home football game against Memphis. East 

Carolina University, which is in my district, has 

long demonstrated an appreciation for the 

Armed Services and the incredible sacrifices 

their members make on a daily basis. 

The United States Coast Guard operates 

several commands in Elizabeth City, North 

Carolina, which I have the privilege of representing. Among these commands is the National Strike Force Coordination Center 

(NSFCC), which is responsible for responding 

to chemical, biological, and radiological 

events, National Security Events, and Weapons of Mass Destruction events. The NSFCC 

is the command component of three subordinate teams and oversees operations of the Atlantic Strike Team, Gulf Strike Team, and Pacific Strike Team. 

Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City is an 

Air Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, 

Port and Waterway Patrols, and Homeland 

Security component. Air Station Elizabeth City 

also supports the Coast Guard Atlantic Area, 

and International Ice Patrol. Support Center 

Elizabeth City is responsible for providing 

logistical support for the tenant commands located on the Coast Guard base in Elizabeth 

City. 

Coast Guard Station Elizabeth City deals 

with surface response for Search and Rescue, 

Law Enforcement, Port and Waterways Patrols, and Homeland Security. The Aviation 

Repair and Supply Center (AR&SC) is responsible for maintaining the parts and supply inventory, technical data and conducting repairs 

for Coast Guard aviation assets. The Aviation 

Technical Training Center (ATTC) is responsible for training mechanical and electrical 

aviation engineers and airmen. 

During the ECU game, Rear Admiral Ronald 

Hewitt, Commander of Maintenance and Logistics Command Atlantic Area, will serve as 

the senior Coast Guard representative. Petty 

Officer Joseph Ruggiero will assist with the 

coin toss. Petty Officer Ruggiero received the 

Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal for 

his selfless service in support of Operation 

Iraqi Freedom. A Coast Guard fly-over will 

precede the action on the field, and the Coast 

Guard will display several small boats, a dive 

locker, and information tables to represent various service missions. 

Madam Speaker, it is with tremendous pride 

that I ask my colleagues to join me today in 

paying tribute to all of our armed services, but 

especially the United States Coast Guard for 

their continued support and vigilance in defense of our Nation. 

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HONORING JAY CEE PAGE 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly 

pause to recognize Jay Cee Page of Kansas 

City, Missouri. Jay is a very special young 

man who has exemplified the finest qualities 

of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 

1740, and earning the most prestigious award 

of Eagle Scout. 

Jay has been very active with his troop, participating in many Scout activities. Over the 

many years Jay has been involved with Scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit 

badges, but also the respect of his family, 

peers, and community. 

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join 

me in commending Jay Cee Page for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the 

highest distinction of Eagle Scout. 

f 

IN MEMORY OF JOHN CURRY 

HON. JOE WILSON 

OF SOUTH CAROLINA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam 

Speaker, I am grateful to submit the following 

thoughtful memorial that ran in the Island 

Packet in Hilton Head Island, SC, remembering the life and service of John Curry. John 

was a dear friend and a lifelong leader in his 

community. 

[From the Island Packet, Sept. 28, 2008] 

A LOOK AT THE LIFE OF ISLAND TOURISM

CHAMPION JOHN CURRY

(By Janet Smith and David Lauderdale) 

For 35 years, John Curry had a singular 

impact on the development of Hilton Head 

Island’s tourism industry and the island’s 

place in the world. 

That impact came in a determined pursuit 

to keep Hilton Head viable, even through the 

toughest of economic times, and to maintain 

what drew millions of visitors and the island’s nearly 40,000 permanent residents here 

in the first place. 

Curry, 78, died Friday night at Hilton Head 

Hospital after suffering a brain aneurysm 

during lunch with his wife, Valerie, and 

friends at the Hilton Head Yacht Club. 

Only the late Charles Fraser, who carved a 

new community out of the forests of Sea 

Pines and set the stage for future planned 

communities, did more to shape the island’s 

modern development. But Curry, who came 

to Hilton Head to work for Fraser in 1973 as 

executive vice president of the old Sea Pines 

Co., dealt with the nuts and bolts of legislation, incorporation and operations that ultimately shaped Hilton Head as a resort destination and residential community. In the 

process, he shaped tourism statewide. 

Along the way, he played a critical role in 

creating the Town of Hilton Head Island and 

establishing the island as a year-round resort community. He also helped negotiate 

and get through the legislature the state accommodations tax, which has provided millions of dollars in marketing money for the 

local tourism industry, as well as funding for 

arts and cultural groups here. 

CENTER OF THE STORM

Curry’s work was not without controversy. 

He often was caught up in the clash of competing tourism and residential interests and 

served as a lightning rod for those who 

thought the island was changing for the 

worse. As the tourism industry’s most visible spokesman, he took the heat for the industry, accused of putting self-interest over 

community interests. 

He played that same lightning rod role at 

the Hilton Head Island Airport, serving on 

the Beaufort County Aviation Advisory 

Board for many years. 

Native islander Perry White said he and 

Curry agreed on little, if anything, in 35 

years of tangling on issues from incorporation of the island to expansion of the airport. 

But White said their disagreements were 

never personal. They even swapped stories 

about lessons learned from their grandfathers. 

‘‘I had tremendous respect for John, and I 

think he had respect for me,’’ White said. 

‘‘John’s contributions were tremendous. I’ll 

miss John. He was one of the mediating 

forces on the Airport Advisory Board, and 

with all the firebrands coming on now, I’m 

beginning to appreciate that more.’’ 

The last time the two saw each other was 

at a recent Beaufort County Council committee meeting. Curry handed White a copy 

of a proposed charter change to the airport 

advisory board. 

BACK FROM THE BRINK

One of Curry’s toughest business challenges came in November 1986, when he was 

tapped to run Hilton Head’s largest employer 

as it plunged into bankruptcy. 

Curry was named trustee for Hilton Head 

Holdings Corp., a company that had been 

cobbled together from the assets of two longtime island companies—the Sea Pines Co. 

and the Hilton Head Co.—less than two years 

before. The company owned property and 

business operations in Sea Pines, Shipyard, 

Wexford, Port Royal and Indigo Run. Its collapse directly affected a third of the island, 

but the entire community reeled from the 

blow. 

The company was in debt to the tune of 

$100 million, 90 percent of that in real estate 

mortgages. But more than 2,000 creditors, 

many of them local businesses, were owed $10 

million. 


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