[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 46 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATIONS TO DAN WHITTLE ON THE SUCCESS OF WHITTLEMANIA

                                 ______


                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 29, 1996

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous 
contribution Dan Whittle has made to the success of Habitat for 
Humanity in Rutherford County.
  In 1993, Dan and the community joined together to host a bean dinner 
to raise money for cancer patient Ben Webber's family. Ben Webber left 
a wife and child when he succumbed to cancer. His lifelong dream of 
owning a house was realized for his family through the money Dan and 
Habitat raised. The Webber dinner was the forerunner of what has come 
to be known as ``Whittlemania.''
  This year, the Second Annual Whittlemania for Habitat was a 
tremendous success. Demos' and Toot's restaurants served over 1,000 
meals and owners Jim and Doris Demos donated the $6 ticket price to 
Habitat. Whittlemania made more than $7,000, quadrupling last year's 
results.
  The community pulled together, and the following businesses and 
individuals made Whittlemania happen: Demos' and Toot's restaurants, 
the Daily News Journal, Whittlemania chairman Darwin Colston, Garden 
Plaza Hotel, the Printing Department, city employees of Smyrna and 
Murfreesboro, Tennessee General Services Commissioner Larry Haynes, 
Fant Smith and Outdoor Communication, and Dan's wife, Pat.
  Dan is a reporter and columnist for the Daily News Journal, a 
Murfreesboro newspaper. In his February 8th column on Whittlemania, he 
says, ``It is mind-boggling and heartwarming personally to have a 
community-wide, charitable, fund-raising event named for you and for 
that, I am thankful. I love this community that cares so much for 
people.''
  Well, Dan, Rutherford County is thankful to you. Its people know how 
much you care. You have shared your personal story of homelessness with 
us, but more than that, you have reached out, time and time again, to 
help friends and strangers. It has been said that the success of a man 
can be gauged by how many lifes he's touched. Congratulations on your 
success and the success of Whittlemania.

                          ____________________