S10944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 11, 2008 

KY; Harlan High School in Harlan, KY; 

Hazard High School in Hazard, KY; 

Hickman County High School in Clinton, KY; Jackson City School in Jackson, KY; Johnson Central High School 

in Paintsville, KY; Magoffin County 

High School in Salyersville, KY; 

Owensboro High School in Owensboro, 

KY; Paintsville High School in 

Paintsville, KY; Paris High School in 

Paris, KY; Phelps High School in 

Phelps, KY; Pineville High School in 

Pineville, KY; Russell County High 

School in Russell Springs, KY; WaltonVerona High School in Walton, KY; 

Whitley County High School in Williamsburg, KY; Williamsburg City 

School in Williamsburg, KY; and 

Williamstown High School in 

Williamstown, KY. 

Again, I commend these high schools 

for a job well done. I hope that their efforts will inspire other schools in Kentucky and around the country to strive 

for the best.∑ 

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CONGRATULATING SILVER MEDAL 

SCHOOLS IN KENTUCKY 

∑ Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, 

today I congratulate the top public 

schools in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I was pleased to learn that U.S. 

News and World Report awarded seven 

high schools in Kentucky with a silver 

medal for their outstanding performance on standardized exams and for 

providing college-level coursework. 

These seven Kentucky high schools 

have shown that they foster an environment that serves all students, no 

matter their academic goals, by demonstrating a commitment to excellence 

through quality education. These Silver Medal Schools back this up with 

measurable academic outcomes that 

show improvement throughout a range 

of performance indicators. 

I have always been proud of Kentucky education because of its relentless effort to enhance and develop the 

lives of every student. This is a well deserved recognition for the excellent 

work that is done by all of these high 

schools, and I would like to congratulate each for its great success. 

The following schools were commended with awards: Beechwood High 

School in Fort Mitchell, KY; Bowling 

Green High School in Bowling Green, 

KY; Dupont Manual High School in 

Louisville, KY; Highlands High School 

in Fort Thomas, KY; Louisville Male 

High School in Louisville, KY; North 

Oldham High School in Goshen, KY; 

and South Oldham High School in 

Crestwood, KY. 

Again, I commend these high schools 

for a job well done. I hope that their efforts will inspire other schools in Kentucky and around the country to strive 

for the best.∑ 

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REMEMBERING MARY SWEENEY 

∑ Mrs. CLINTON. Madam President, I 

would like to take a moment to remember one of my constituents and a 

life-long New Yorker, Mary Sweeney of 

Niagara Falls. Seven years ago, it was 

my great honor to send congratulations to Mary and her husband John on 

the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. I know that her fighting 

spirit will live on through John and her 

children, Moira, John, Billy, and 

Brendan, and a large and loving family 

of grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. 

Born in the Great Depression, Mary 

exemplified the hopes and dreams of 

New York families whom I have had 

the honor and privilege of representing 

in the Senate these past 8 years. Mary 

had an ardent appreciation for public 

service and the political process, and 

she remained true to her strong convictions throughout her life. She was a 

loving wife and mother who worked 

every day to ensure opportunities for 

her children. In retirement she enjoyed 

her many grand-children and greatgrand-children and she should be proud 

that the rewards of her commitment to 

her family, her church, and her community can be seen in the many accomplishments of her family and extended family and in the many loving 

tributes that have been shown to her 

since her passing.

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∑ 

REMEMBERING ROBERT COOK 

EDWARDS 

∑ Mr. GRAHAM. Madam President, I 

ask my fellow colleagues to join me in 

honoring the memory of a dedicated 

educator and innovator, Clemson University president emeritus Robert Cook 

Edwards. After a lifetime of unprecedented service to his students as 

Clemson’s longest serving chief executive, Dr. Edwards passed away in Seneca, SC, on December 4, 2008, at the age 

of 94. 

Dr. Edwards will be remembered for 

his legendary leadership, strength in 

business negotiation, and passion for 

Clemson football. Known as a giant in 

the history of Clemson University and 

affectionately referred to as ‘‘R.C.’’ by 

his students, he led the institution 

through a period of peaceful integration and phenomenal growth to become 

a thriving, coeducational, and diversified university. 

Born and raised in Fountain Inn, SC, 

Dr. Edwards attended Clemson College 

at the young age of 15. He went on to 

graduate with a bachelor of science degree in textile engineering in 1933, and 

after a successful career in the textile 

industry, he returned to Clemson as 

the university’s first vice president for 

development in 1956. Dr. Edwards became acting president in 1958, after the 

death of President Robert F. Poole, and 

was eventually elected president on 

April 9, 1959, by the board of trustees. 

He became the eighth chief executive 

of Clemson and the second alumnus to 

hold the position. 

Dr. Edwards peacefully led the university through racial integration 

when its first African-American student was enrolled in 1962. Despite the 

recurring turmoil of racial tensions 

during the 1960s, President Edwards 

handled those challenging times without incident. His brave actions resulted 

in progress and advancement of equal 

civil rights throughout the State of 

South Carolina. 

By the time of his retirement in 1979, 

Dr. Edwards had awarded over 28,000 diplomas, which represented more than 

70 percent of all the undergraduate degrees and doctorates awarded in 

Clemson’s history to date, the student 

body had grown to 11,000 students, 4 

schools had become 9 colleges, and the 

students could choose from over 60 majors. Because of Dr. Edwards’s oversight, leadership, and enthusiasm for 

growth, his influence has stretched beyond the gates of the university to impact the lives of men and women all 

over the country. 

Dr. Edwards was predeceased by his 

wife Louise Odom Edwards, who died 

on July 29, 2008. She was affectionately 

referred to as ‘‘Moon Pie’’ by Clemson 

students and alumni and was said to be 

a perfect compliment to her husband, 

‘‘R.C.’’ 

Robert Cook Edwards’s legacy will 

live on not only in the hearts of his 

students and fellow educators, but 

through the developments and achievements he has accomplished at one of 

our Nation’s finest institutions. I ask 

that the Senate join me in commemorating Dr. Edwards’s lifelong dedication to higher learning and to the 

State of South Carolina.

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∑ 

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 

A message from the President of the 

United States was communicated to 

the Senate by Mr. Williams, one of his 

secretaries. 

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EXECUTIVE MESSAGE REFERRED 

As in executive session the Presiding 

Officer laid before the Senate a message from the President of the United 

States submitting a nomination which 

was referred to the Committee on 

Armed Services. 

(The nomination received today is 

printed at the end of the Senate proceedings.) 

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MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE 

At 12:21 p.m., a message from the 

House of Representatives, delivered by 

Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the 

following bills, in which it requests the 

concurrence of the Senate: 

H.R. 7321. An act to authorize financial assistance to eligible automobile manufacturers, and for other purposes. 

H.R. 7327. An act to make technical corrections related to the Pension Protection Act 

of 2006, and for other purposes. 

The message also announced that the 

House has passed the following bills 

and joint resolution, without amendment: 

S. 3663. An act to require the Federal Communications Commission to provide for a