October 2, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2203 

The bankruptcy threatened not only individual livelihoods, but the reputation of Hilton Head as a first-class resort and the future of the island’s premier sporting event, 

the Heritage Classic professional golf tournament. National media swarmed to Hilton 

Head to cover the story of a premier resort 

falling into disrepute. 

The island company had been wrested from 

developer Bobby Ginn earlier in 1986 and put 

in the hands of a New York businessman, 

Philip Schwab. But Schwab’s financial empire collapsed, along with the savings and 

loan industry, pulling down the Hilton Head 

properties. 

Schwab was supposed to prop up the failing 

island company. Instead, he started pulling 

money out of Hilton Head. Schwab said that 

his net worth at the time he took control of 

the company was $50 million to $60 million; 

he estimated in 1987 that he owed $500 million. 

When asked in October 1987 what he had 

told people he would do to save the company, 

Schwab replied, ‘‘Nobody ever asked me.’’ 

U.S. District Judge Sol Blatt Jr., who appointed Curry as trustee, and former S.C. 

Gov. John West succeeded in getting the 

South Carolina properties separated from 

the rest of Schwab’s holdings. Blatt took the 

rare step of holding on to the bankruptcy 

case rather than turn it over to a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge. Blatt for many years 

owned a house in Palmetto Dunes and was a 

longtime friend of West. 

Blatt, West and Curry had no bankruptcy 

experience. (At one of the first hearings in 

the case, Blatt described himself and West as 

‘‘the blind leading the blind.’’) Curry’s resort 

operations experience brought him to the 

table. 

The challenge was to balance what they 

thought was right for Hilton Head with the 

pressures to sell the company’s assets for the 

most money possible to pay off creditors. 

Those competing interests made for fiery 

court hearings, and it eventually resulted in 

Blatt’s removal from the case by the Fourth 

Circuit Court of Appeals. The court said 

Blatt’s Hilton Head ties had created at least 

the appearance of a conflict of interest. 

Blatt’s activism was extremely unusual, 

but the fear of lasting repercussions for Hilton Head was palpable. In January 1987, 

Blatt said, ‘‘I’m not going to supervise the 

demise of Hilton Head Island when I can stop 

it.’’ 

Throughout 1987, Curry and his team struggled to keep resort and real estate operations going while figuring out how to keep 

the gated communities caught in the bankruptcy as intact as possible. 

KEEPING THE HERITAGE

Saving the Heritage also was a primary 

goal. The PGA Tour was unhappy with the 

condition of Harbour Town Golf Links, 

where the Heritage was played. The course 

had been neglected as the Sea Pines Co.’s 

fortunes sank. Making matters worse was 

that the purse check for another Tour event 

held at Harbour Town in the fall of 1986 had 

bounced. 

Curry flew to Jacksonville, Fla., to meet 

with the PGA Tour commissioner. When told 

the only way to keep the Heritage was to sell 

Harbour Town Golf Links to the Tour, Curry 

got up and walked out. It worked. 

The tournament stayed, and Curry then 

leaned on Angus Cotton, who had moved to 

the island in 1981 as general manager of the 

Marriott resort hotel in Shipyard, to produce 

a $1 million letter of credit from local businesses to guarantee the purse for the 1987 

tournament. To do it, they formed the nonprofit Heritage Classic Foundation to stage 

the tournament. To date, that group’s charitable giving from tournament proceeds has 

topped $16 million. 

In the end, the bankrupt company’s Sea 

Pines assets went to residents of that community who put together their own company, Sea Pines Associates. Most of the 

other properties went back to mortgage 

holder Marathon Oil Co. Indigo Run ended up 

in the hands of the Federal Resolution Trust 

Corp. and was sold to the Melrose Co. in 1991. 

After getting baptized in the arcane world 

of bankruptcy law, Curry continued to work 

as a trustee in many other cases. 

‘HEADS IN BEDS’ 

But Curry’s most enduring legacy will be 

his work in tourism. 

‘‘Before John, we had tourism but it was 

almost always linked to selling real estate,’’ 

Cotton said. ‘‘He was interested in putting 

heads in beds and pushing tourism in the offpeak months.’’ 

Curry and Cotton took countless trips to 

cold cities, pitching the island and offering 

tourism leaders there free stays back on Hilton Head. 

Friends say that no matter where Curry 

went around the world, he always seemed to 

know people. 

Cotton and others worked with Curry to 

shape the state Accommodations Tax Act in 

1984. With assurances that part of the 2 percent tax on overnight lodging would go to 

local tourism marketing and to local organizations to promote tourism, Curry helped 

sell it to skeptical industry leaders statewide. 

Curry, who led the island’s Visitor and 

Convention Bureau for 17 years, also pushed 

legislation to relax state liquor laws and 

allow Sunday sales. 

‘‘He was very pragmatic,’’ Cotton said, 

‘‘very pragmatic. In the arts and education 

and a lot of other ways people didn’t see, he 

was behind the scenes trying to smooth the 

way and work things out.’’ 

FLYING HIGH

To understand Curry’s involvement with 

the airport, one first must understand his 

passion for flying, said David Ames, chairman of county Aviation Advisory Board and 

a close friend of Curry’s. They shared office 

space for 20 years. 

‘‘I think he was happiest in the air,’’ Ames 

said. ‘‘He just loved the adventure and the 

freedom flying gave him.’’ 

As a tourism leader, Curry also understood 

how important the airport is to the economy 

and the island experience, Ames said. 

‘‘John believed the airport provided an essential support for the standard of life on the 

island,’’ he said. ‘‘The convenience of the island airport is tremendously important, and 

John knew that. And coming from the service business, he knew it was important how 

a passenger feels about Hilton Head when 

getting off that airplane. He was always 

looking for ways to make the airport better, 

and he spent whatever time it took.’’ 

Bill Miles, president and CEO of the Hilton 

Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, 

said, ‘‘The Hilton Head Island we know today 

is in part due to the tireless efforts of John, 

with his wonderful obsession to get it right 

and make this the unique destination it has 

become. He created a lasting legacy for us 

all, with courage, true grit, determination 

and with a real grace and style that was all 

his own.’’ 

In memory of John Curry. 

A memorial service for John Curry, 78, is 

at 2 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian 

Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway. 

Surviving are his wife of 36 years, Valerie; 

three sons, David (Rozana) Curry of Burbank, Calif., Edward (Kelly) Curry of Toluca 

Lake, Calif., and Donn Curry of Portland, 

Ore.; two grandchildren, Matthew and Adam 

Curry; a brother, David Curry of Berkeley, 

Calif.; and a former daughter-in-law, Lynn 

Curry. He was preceded in death by his twin 

sister, Jeanette; and his first wife, Martha 

Weathersbee Curry. 

f 

100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF METHODIST HOSPITAL, INDIANAPOLIS, 

INDIANA 

HON. ANDRE ́ CARSON OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, 

today I rise to honor the 100-year anniversary 

of the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. I am fortunate to have such a hospital facility in my district. Over 100 years ago, on 

October 25, 1905, the cornerstone for Methodist Hospital was laid. Three years later, in 

1908, the hospital was open to the public. Patient fees started at $7 a week and the hospital adopted a policy to care for the impoverished at no charge. Many things have 

changed since then. The hospital has grown in 

size and provides new services to fit the evergrowing needs of the city. But many things 

have stayed the same. The hospital’s commitment to serve the disadvantaged and provide 

state-of-the-art, innovative medical care is as 

important a part of Methodist’s mission today 

as it was 100 years ago. 

Methodist Hospital has always been on the 

forefront of health care. During the baby boom 

of the 1940s, it established the first premature 

birth station in the state. Methodist was the 

first Indiana hospital to perform open-heart 

surgery, in 1965. Seven years later, in 1972, 

its doctors performed the state’s first kidney 

transplant. In 1982 the world’s first successful 

heart transplant at a private hospital was performed at Methodist, followed 7 years later by 

the performance of the state’s first heart lung 

transplant. 

Today, Methodist is one of only two adult 

regional Level 1 Trauma centers in Indiana. It 

houses an 899-bed facility and is one of the 

largest teaching hospitals in the Midwest. It 

runs the Indiana Poison Center in addition to 

staffing the LifeLine helicopter ambulances. 

Additionally, Methodist is also the official 

health care provider for the Indianapolis Motor 

Speedway. 

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate all the doctors, nurses and health care 

professionals for being part of such an exceptional health care organization and thank them 

for their dedication to the health and wellbeing of the people of Indiana. 

f 

HONORING JEREMY JAMES FAJEN 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly 

pause to recognize Jeremy James Fajen of 

Blue Springs, Missouri. Jeremy 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 1763, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. 

Jeremy has been very active with his troop, 

participating in many Scout activities. Over the 


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E2204 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 2, 2008 

many years Jeremy 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 Jeremy James Fajen for 

his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of 

America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout. 

f 

WORLD PSORIASIS DAY 

HON. TODD RUSSELL PLATTS OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize October 29, 2008, as World Psoriasis 

Day. 

Madam Speaker, over 125 million individuals across the globe have been diagnosed 

with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis is 

a lifelong skin disorder that causes thick, red 

lesions to appear on the skin. These lesions 

are often painful and itchy for the diagnosed 

individual. 

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for 

psoriasis. A number of treatments have been 

developed and are often effective in controlling 

the disease. However, continual therapy is 

usually essential. 

I became aware of World Psoriasis Day 

through a constituent of mine, Nicholas Stem, 

who was diagnosed with psoriasis when he 

was just 7 years old. Fortunately, Nicholas has 

been able to control his psoriasis by taking a 

biologic drug in the form of an injection every 

week. 

I am honored to represent the Stem family, 

who have made advocacy on behalf of Nicholas and the millions of other individuals affected by psoriasis a family mission. At 9 

years of age, Nicholas has already given educational presentations in front of his classmates, Cub Scout pack, and Members of Congress and their staffs. I commend the Stem 

family for their efforts. 

World Psoriasis Day aims to bring global 

awareness to the disease and increase the 

understanding of psoriasis within the general 

public. A long-standing myth is that psoriasis 

is contagious. This myth is perhaps one of the 

most damaging psychologically to individuals 

with psoriasis and is simply untrue. 

It is my hope that someday a cure for psoriasis will be discovered. Until that time, Madam 

Speaker, it is important for efforts such as 

World Psoriasis Day to bring awareness 

around the globe regarding the prevalence of 

the disease and the need for effective 

treatments. 

f 

RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN CHARLES 

L. STUPPARD WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY FOR 

HIS SERVICE AS COMMANDER OF 

TASK GROUP 56.6 IN KUWAIT, 

IRAQ, AND AFGHANISTAN 

HON. DANNY K. DAVIS OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I 

wish to take a moment to recognize Captain 

Charles L. Stuppard with the United States 

Navy for his service and dedication as Commander of Task Group 56.6 in Kuwait, Iraq, 

and Afghanistan. As the Navy Individual 

Augmentee Support Group, Task Group 56.6 

serves to in-process, oversee, train, out-process and care for members of the Navy assigned as Individual Augmentees to duties in 

the Global War on Terrorism. Rather than 

being a member of a particular military structure, such as a brigade or battalion, an ‘‘Individual Augmentee’’ (or IA) is a Sailor who fills 

a position for which there is a shortage or high 

demand. After a year serving as the Commander of TG 56.6, On Thursday, June 5, 

2008, a Change of Command Ceremony took 

place at the CDR Phillip Murphy-Sweet Warrior Transition Program Facility, Camp Arifjan, 

Kuwait to recognize Captain Stuppard’s leadership. 

When I think of Captain Stuppard, I am reminded of the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., 

and Rosalynn Carter. Reverend Doctor King 

reflected, ‘‘The ultimate measure of a man is 

not where he stands in moments of comfort, 

but where he stands at times of challenge and 

controversy.’’ Mrs. Carter once said, ‘‘A leader 

takes people where they want to go. A great 

leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.’’ As the 

Commander of the Navy’s IA Support Group, 

Captain Stuppard demonstrated the spirit of 

these quotes. During a time of great conflict 

and challenge, he was responsible for ensuring that thousands of Sailors were supported 

and cared for while performing a variety of 

specialized positions to meet theater requirements in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. To accomplish this, Captain Stuppard enhanced the 

check-in and training process of incoming personnel to theater, improved the support structures, provided oversight during the deployment, and strengthened supports for returning 

service members. Central to these successes 

were his commitment and ability to coordinate 

and streamline operational relationships within 

IA and non-IA stakeholders to provide the 

services needed by all to our IA sailors in the 

Global War on Terrorism. His coordinated efforts improved administrative efficiencies, 

which reduced the immediate risk and burden 

on deployed Expeditionary forces. Captain 

Stuppard was lauded for his ‘‘Sailor first’’ philosophy—developing programs, ensuring key 

supports for military personnel, and establishing benchmarks for continuous support for 

future operations. These activities demand 

adept leadership and an acute sense of mission goals to address the rapidly changing 

needs of deployed Sailors. 

Truly, these accomplishments are impressive and worthy of the recognition of the 

United States House of Representatives. I 

wish Captain Stuppard well in his new role as 

the Executive Assistant to the Commander of 

Navy Installations Command at the Washington Navy Yard. I am certain that in this position he will continue to serve his country with 

honor, lead with wisdom, and display courage 

that few demonstrate but many admire. 

IN RECOGNITION OF MR. WOODFIN 

K. GROVE 

HON. MIKE ROGERS OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, 

I would like to request the House’s attention 

today to pay recognition to a special day in 

the life of a constituent of mine, Mr. Woodfin 

K. Grove. 

On October 23rd, Mr. Grove will celebrate 

his 90th birthday. To help commemorate this 

special occasion, his friends and church family 

are surprising him with a dinner at The Bridge 

at First United Methodist Church in Anniston, 

Alabama on October 22nd. 

Woodfin K. Grove was born in Birmingham, 

Alabama, and was an only child. He graduated from Ensley High School and Birmingham Southern, both located in Birmingham. He received his degree in Theology 

from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. 

Grove married Dorothy Rowland with whom 

he had one daughter, Ann, and one grandson, 

John. 

Today Mr. Grove is loved by everyone. He 

is known for his good advice to those around 

him and serves as a wise leader in his church. 

He and his wife, Dot, both are young at heart 

and have been known to ride around Anniston 

on his motorcycle or in his sports car. They attend First United Methodist Church in Anniston 

where he became Pastor Emeritus in 2001. 

I would like to congratulate Mr. Grove on 

reaching this important milestone in his life. I 

wish him a happy birthday and the best in the 

future. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF AMERICAN 

DIABETES MONTH 

HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Ms. DELAURO. Madam Speaker, as we approach November, American Diabetes 

Month, I would like to take this opportunity to 

recognize the significant daily challenges 

faced by those struggling with chronic diseases such as diabetes. At a time when our 

Nation is facing urgent crises from the economy to foreign policy, some Americans may 

wonder why it is important to worry about diabetes. The fact is that diabetes has become 

one of the most urgent public health crises of 

the 21st century. More than 24 million children 

and adults in the U.S. are already bearing the 

daily consequences of living with diabetes, 

and the numbers continue to grow. 

Diabetes comes in 2 main forms: Type 1 diabetes, or ‘‘juvenile diabetes,’’ often develops 

in children, adolescents, and young adults; 

and Type 2 diabetes, which typically develops 

after age 40, but is appearing with increasing, 

and alarming, frequency in children. Although 

the causes of type 1 diabetes are not entirely 

known, it is not caused by obesity or by eating 

excessive sugar. There is a crucial and continuing need for research on the causes, prevention, treatment and cure of Type I Diabetes. That is why I am so pleased to have supported the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, which extended the Special Diabetes Program and the 


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