[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H9649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING DR. DON JOHNSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Norwood] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I come to the well today for a very 
pleasant task, to honor a friend of mine, but I cannot even come and do 
that without correcting the comments of the previous speaker.
  I, too, am on the Committee on Commerce. We held so many Medicaid 
hearings, I am not sure of the number, but I think it was 8 to 10, 
somewhere in that area. The gentleman talked of cuts in Medicaid. Let 
me tell the Members something. The State of Georgia is going to get a 
7.2-percent increase next year in Medicaid spending, and in 1997 a 9-
percent increase in Medicaid spending, so I apologize that I have to 
bring that up, but I would like for the American people to hear the 
truth.
  Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to talk about a great 
American. Next week, Dr. Don Johnson will end his reign as president of 
the International College of Dentistry. It is the crowning achievement 
of one man's tremendous career, a man I am very proud to call my 
friend.
  Don is a Georgian through and through. He was born and raised in 
Atlanta. He graduated from the Emory University School of Dentistry in 
1961 and has been a practicing dentist ever since. He continued to 
contribute to his alma mater as a member of Emory's Board of Visitors.
  There are two things that have always amazed me about Don. He has 
been a visionary in the dental field, and he has a boundless energy to 
contribute to his profession.
  I recently had the opportunity to go back and read an interview with 
Don that appeared in the Georgia Dental Association's Newsletter. I was 
astounded at how insightful his comments were. Don was able to see in 
1986 where the dental profession needed to be in 1996. He foresaw the 
problems in dentistry today that were only smoldering 10 years ago.
  Don is a man with tremendous energy. He has run a successful dental 
practice for many years, yet he has still found the time to volunteer 
in service to his profession. He is a former president of the Georgia 
Dental Association, a former president of the Northern District Dental 
Society, and a former president of the Hinman Dental Society. He is a 
fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College 
of Dentists, and a member of the eminent Pierre Fauchard Academy. In 
1988, he was named the ``Man of the Year in Dentistry'' by the Northern 
District Dental Society. He has published numerous scholarly articles 
and presented many technical papers at dental conferences. He has done 
all this while running his practice and raising two daughters, serving 
in his church, and on top of all that he is an accomplished airplane 
pilot.
  Mr. Speaker, It is my pleasure today to bring before you the 
accomplishments of Dr. Don Johnson of Atlanta, GA, president of the 
International College of Dentists, and a great American.

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