[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E210-E211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    ALEX WEDDINGTON HONORED BY MERIDIAN'S JUNIOR AUXILIARY AS 1996 
                        HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______


                      HON. G.V. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 1996

  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to 
commend my friend, Alex Weddington, for being selected Humanitarian of 
the Year by the Junior Auxiliary in our hometown of Meridian, MS.
  The Junior Auxiliary presents the award each year to a person, 
organization or business in recognition of their contribution to the 
betterment of the community. I can think of no one more deserving of 
this honor than Alex. He is making a positive difference in our 
community.
  I want to share with my colleagues this article about Alex and his 
work with the Masonic Home for Boys and Girls. It was written by Ida 
Brown of the Meridian Star.

Spending Time With the Kids--Alex Weddington Shares Time With Children 
                  From Masonic Home for Boys and Girls

                             (By Ida Brown)

       Although he looks forward to every day, Meridian 
     businessman Alex Weddington probably enjoys Fridays even 
     more. After a busy week at the office, he and his wife, Ann, 
     usually spend the evening with the kids--all 23 of them.
       For 15 years, Weddington's Friday evenings--and many other 
     days of the week--have been shared with the residents of the 
     Masonic Home for Boy and Girls.
       ``The kids are wonderful and you get so much more out of 
     doing for them than you put in,'' Weddington said.
     
[[Page E211]]

       ``Alex has accepted the responsibility of trying to improve 
     the living conditions of the community,'' U.S. Rep. G.V. 
     ``Sonny'' Montgomery said.
       ``He's always trying to help someone else . . . He's more 
     concerned helping others than himself,'' added Noel Evans, 
     executive director of the Choctaw Area Council of the Boy 
     Scouts of America. ``Meridian is fortunate to have great 
     community leaders such as Alex; they make Meridian a great 
     place to live.''
       Today, Weddington will be presented the ``Humanitarian of 
     the Year Award'' by the Meridian Junior Auxiliary. According 
     to Kay Wedgeworth, chairman, the honoree was reluctant when 
     informed that he'd been selected for the recognition.
       ``. . . He said, `I'll make you a deal. Give it to the guy 
     who come in second and I won't say a word,' '' said 
     Wedgeworth. The award is presented annually to a person, 
     organization or business in recognition of the time, talent 
     and effort which they have contributed to the betterment of 
     the community, particularly youth.
       A native of Meridian, Weddington first became associated 
     with the Masonic home out of curiosity.
       ``I've always had a curious nature. I'd driven by the home 
     hundreds of times and wondered what was up there. One day in 
     1981, I stopped by and asked Pete Griffis, who, at the time 
     was grand secretary, what it (the home) was about. When he 
     told me they needed help, I told him he had it.''
       He started out by taking the kids out on Fridays to the 
     movies, skating, camping or to local events and activities. 
     Over the years, this has extended to also include two 
     vacations each year--an early summer one to various locales 
     and one in late summer at his family's home on the 
     Mississippi Gulf Coast. Sometimes, he just invites the kids 
     to his home, rents movies and orders pizza.
       ``Each one of these children come from unique 
     circumstances. They're wonderful children and given a chance 
     in life, which is what the masonic home does, they will make 
     something of their lives,'' said Weddington. ``. . . God has 
     really blessed me for being able to help out with there 
     children. A lot of people look at it that the children are 
     blessed; I'm the one who is blessed.''
       He considers his deeds as ``what I'm supposed to do. I 
     think it's what God wants me to do,'' he said.
       ``Alex is always doing things for other folks and never 
     wants any recognition,'' said Fred Bean, who currently serves 
     as grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi and 
     secretary of the board of managers at the masonic home. 
     ``He's taken the kids at the home water rafting, camping, on 
     trips to Disney World, Six Flags, Liberty Land . . . He 
     provides them opportunities they may not have otherwise.''
       His dedication to the kids is solid. He seldom cancels his 
     Friday nights with them.
       In fact, on his first date with his wife, the kids went 
     along.
       ``I called her up and told her I wanted to know what kind 
     of sport she was. I explained that I took the kids from the 
     home out every Friday night and that our first date was going 
     to be with 23 children. I didn't want to disappoint them. I 
     picked her up with 23 kids, a dog and myself . . . She was a 
     good sport.''
       Commenting on that first outing, Mrs. Weddington said, ``It 
     definitely was different from any other date I'd been on. But 
     I knew then that he was special. Here he was a bachelor who 
     had a lot going for him. And on a Friday night when most 
     bachelors were out on a date, Alex was with all of these 
     kids.
       ``He's a good role model in a time when strong models are 
     needed. He's a good listener, intuitive . . . and can read 
     those kids like a book. He tries to encourage them to study 
     and that just because they were born under bad circumstances, 
     it doesn't mean they don't have the power to change the 
     course of their lives.''
       Scouting is one way Weddington has motivated the youth to 
     taking responsibility for their lives. He especially 
     encourages the boys to aim for the Eagle Scout Award.
       ``Scouting builds character. For the boys, achieving the 
     Eagle Scout Award is one of the greatest accomplishments. 
     This year, Anthony Watkins and Glen Burge both will receive 
     the award; I'm really proud of them.''
       Scholastic achievement is another source of inspiration. 
     Each year, Weddington takes the three children with the best 
     grades at the end of the semester on a skiing trip in 
     Colorado.
       ``I try to make sure they really study hard; I've found 
     this trip to be a great motivating factor. Most of these kids 
     have never been in an airplane; it's really exciting for 
     them,'' he said. ``These kids have gone from making `Cs' and 
     `Ds' to `As' and `Bs.' ''
       Other ways he has helped the home is by securing funds 
     ``for the little extras.'' In 1985, he enlisted Montgomery's 
     support in sponsoring a golf tournament. Now in its 11th 
     year, the ``Sonny'' Montgomery-Masonic Home Benefit Golf 
     Tournament has netted more than $100,000.
       Funds are used for outings, trips and other necessities.
       But more than anything, it gives them another opportunity 
     to spend time with one of their favorite people. Without a 
     doubt, the kids love Weddington, but not just because he 
     ``takes them places.''
       ``He's a great man,'' said Joseph Walker, 12. ``. . . He's 
     very nice but if you mess up, he'll make sure you don't do it 
     again; and you won't.''
       Sisters Felicia Kern, 12, and Christine, 13, enjoy being 
     around Weddington because ``he's fun and has a nice 
     personality.''
       Glen Burge, 17, describes Weddington as a great person with 
     a big heart.
       ``He puts in a lot of time with us and cares about us a 
     lot. I really appreciate all that he has done for us and the 
     only way I can pay him back is to say, `Thank-you.' He's 
     truly a blessing to my heart.''
       As the Meridian Junior Auxiliary's Humanitarian of the 
     Year, Weddington will receive a plaque and $500 will be 
     donated in his name to the charity of his choice.

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