[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      TRIBUTE TO HUGH A. WESTBROOK

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                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 1995
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear 
friend of many years, a man of great compassion and vision and one of 
south Florida's truly outstanding citizens: Hugh A. Westbrook.
  Hugh started his career as a pastor for 10 years in North Carolina 
and Florida. He is an ordained United Methodist minister wit a master's 
of divinity degree from Duke University and a bachelor of arts degree 
from Emory University. He served as a hospital chaplain specializing in 
the care of terminally ill patients and their families.
  He was also an instructor and associate dean at Miami-Dade Community 
College, where he collaborated in the development of an innovative 
curriculum in death education that emphasized studies leading to a 
better understanding of the psycho-social issues surrounding death.
  Hugh Westbrook went on to found Hospice, Inc., and was instrumental 
in the passage by the Florida State Legislature of the statue that 
provided for the licensing of hospices in Florida and the establishment 
of the first standards of quality for the care of terminally ill 
people--standards that are still used today. He was also cochair of the 
National Hospice Education Project, which played a key role in the 
approval by Congress, in 1982, of Medicare reimbursement for hospice 
services.
  Mr. Speaker, Hugh Westbrook will be celebrating his 50th birthday on 
March 17, and I want to extend to him warm greetings and best wishes on 
this important occasion. Hugh has had a major impact on south Florida 
and the Nation during his first 50 years. I am frankly looking forward 
to seeing what he will accomplish in the next 50.


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