[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 154 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1891-E1892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF ROY L. WINES, JR.

                                 ______


                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 1995

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a loving 
husband and father, a civic leader, and a hero, a man whom I revere and 
am proud to call my dear friend. His name is Roy Wines.
  Roy was born and raised in Southampton, NY. His ancestors were of 
Welsh background 

[[Page E 1892]]
and they settled in Southold in the 1640's. At the young age of 18 he 
enlisted in the Army Air Corps and received his wings in 1943, becoming 
one of the youngest pilots in the Air Corps. After serving as a flight 
instructor until the end of WWII, he attended the Long Island 
Agricultural and Technical Institute where he achieved the highest 
academic average in his class. In 1947 he married his childhood 
sweetheart, Violet Albright and they now have two sons and six 
grandchildren.
  Over the years Roy has been dedicated to serving the community in 
both church and civic activities. As a member of the United Methodist 
Church of Southhampton he has served as lay leader, as a member of the 
board of trustees, as chairman of the administrative council, and as 
chairman of the building committee. In the community Roy has served as 
vice commander of the American Legion in Southampton, member of the 
board of trustees of the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton, member 
of the board of trustees of Southampton Hospital, treasurer of 
Southampton Historical Society, disaster chairman for the local Red 
Cross, chairman of Troop 58, Boy Scouts of America, and as a member of 
the Southampton Fire Department for over 43 years.
  It was while he was serving in the Southampton Fire Department that 
we truly learned of Roy's dedication to his job, fellow citizens, and 
Nation. On March 30, 1974, the Southampton Fire Department was called 
to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ruggieri whose house was on fire. The 
Ruggieri's home was engulfed in flames and they were trapped in their 
upstairs bedroom. Mrs. Ruggieri was 4 months pregnant at the time with 
their daughter, Kate. Ignoring the raging inferno that was the 
Ruggieri's home, Roy, alone, climbed up a ladder and led Mr. and Mrs. 
Ruggieri to safety. While descending the ladder, the heat of the fire 
caused the bay window from the living room below to explode. Mrs. 
Ruggieri said, ``I will always be grateful to Roy Wines for saving 
three lives.'' I am enclosing her letter to the Southampton Fire 
Department for the Record.
  Unfortunately, Roy has been dealing with some serious health problems 
and I wanted to take this opportunity to share the love and affection 
of our whole community for Roy with this House. Even with that added 
burden, Roy is still very much involved in many church and civic 
related activities. With so few heroes in today's world, I am honored 
to know Roy and I join Roy's family, friends, and the Nation in 
expressing our deep-felt gratitude for his honorable and heroic 
efforts.

                                               September 18, 1995.
       Dear Members of the Southampton Fire Department: I am 
     delighted to finally have the opportunity to acknowledge and 
     thank Mr. Roy Wines for his selfless act of courage in the 
     rescue he participated in as a fireman to save my husband and 
     myself from a house fire in March 1974.
       The fire occurred at a house we were renting on Meadow Lane 
     in Southampton. The owner was planning a renovation of the 
     kitchen and we agreed to go out and prepare for the 
     contractors. Due to a severe snow storm, it took us almost 
     eight hours to reach Southampton, and we did not arrive until 
     almost midnight.
       I remember being awakened around one a.m. to the sounds of 
     crashing in the living room below. Because I was then four 
     months pregnant with my daughter, Kate, I did not sleep well 
     and so fortunately awoke to hear the noise. I woke my husband 
     and he called the police, for we both thought the house was 
     being burglarized. We barricaded the bedroom door and waited 
     for the police to arrive. Within minutes, smoke started to 
     come under the door, and when we tried to escape, we were 
     forced back by a huge wall of fire that was racing up the 
     staircase from the first floor.
       We called the fire department and waited, not knowing what 
     to expect next and not even sure we could or would be 
     rescued. We tried several times to break out windows, but to 
     no avail. The worst moment came when all the power in the 
     house went out and we were in complete darkness, without 
     flashlights or matches.
       I will never forget the incredible sense of relief upon 
     hearing and seeing the Southampton Fire Department trucks 
     pull into our driveway.
       The details of our rescue have faded with time, but I think 
     you should know that it was Roy Wines, who alone, came up a 
     ladder and led us both to safety. It took great courage at a 
     time when the fire had reached such a stage that the bay 
     window from the living room below exploded as we descended 
     the ladder.
       I know that many volunteer firemen and police officers 
     helped in the rescue efforts that night, but I will always be 
     grateful to Roy Wines for saving three lives on March 30, 
     1974.
       Thank you and God bless.

                          ____________________