[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E626-E627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CORA SWEATT, 1996 TENNESSEE MOTHER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______


                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 24, 1996

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Mrs. Cora 
Sweatt for being named as the 1996 Tennessee Mother of the Year. This 
indeed is a great honor and one which Mrs. Sweatt should be very proud 
to receive.
  I believe that if we are going to remain a strong country in years to 
come, we must strengthen the American family.
  Mothers are special individuals who sacrifice a great deal for their 
families and especially their children, and often times they are not 
recognized for their hard work and devotion. I am proud to see that my 
home State of Tennessee has taken the time to honor a woman like Mrs. 
Sweatt. She has had great success at balancing many critical 
responsibilities for the family and even has taken time from a very 
busy schedule to serve the community as well.
  I believe that true success is achieved by those who strive for 
excellency. I want to extend my congratulations to Cora Sweatt for 
receiving this honor.
  I request that a copy of the article that appeared in the Daily Post-
Athenian on Friday, March 22, 1996 honoring Mrs. Sweatt as 1996 
Tennessee Mother of the Year be placed in the Record at this point so 
that I can call it to the attention of my colleagues and other readers 
of the Record.

             Cora Sweatt Named Tennessee Mother of the Year

                           (By Anissa Hicks)

       A local woman has achieved one of the highest honors in 
     Tennessee.
       Cora Beasley Sweatt of Athens has been named the Tennessee 
     Mother of the Year by the Tennessee Mothers Association of 
     American Mothers, Inc.
       The selection was made from portfolios received by the 
     Tennessee Mothers Association from organizations, churches 
     and civic groups across the state in response to a statewide 
     appeal for groups to nominate worthy mothers.
       Sweatt was named Athens' Mother of the Year during a 
     Chamber of Commerce Banquet in January. The award was 
     sponsored by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and the 
     chamber sent information they compiled on Sweatt to the 
     state.
       The people nominated for state Mother of the Year had to 
     exemplify the qualities of the ideal mother, based on 
     activities, character, and achievements and success in 
     rearing her children, as evidence of a happy home with a 
     loving husband by her side, reaffirming the importance of 
     spirituality as a key to strengthening family life.
       From these portfolios of the life of the mother, a jury 
     composed of leaders in religion, education, business, 
     government and child rearing select the 1995 Tennessee Mother 
     of the Year, who then represents Tennessee in Nebraska at the 
     American Mothers Annual Conference in April.
       ``It's hard to believe I was chosen for this,'' Sweatt 
     said. ``To say the least, I'm deeply honored and very happy.
       ``I'll do my best to represent the state of Tennessee as 
     Mother of the Year,'' she said. ``I hope and pray I'll 
     represent the state in a positive manner and carry out the 
     purpose of American Mothers, Inc.''

[[Page E627]]

       Sweatt said she's looking forward to going to Nebraska at 
     the end of April for the national conference.
       At the conference, the American Mother of the Year will be 
     announced from all the portfolios of the mothers representing 
     each state and from the appearance and personality of each 
     mother there.
       Sweatt is the sixth Mother of the Year who has come from 
     the Athens area. The only city in the state that has more is 
     Memphis, said Peggy Arterburn, president and CEO of the 
     Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. Athens and Knoxville now are 
     tied at the same number.
       ``We are fortunate to have Mrs. Sweatt selected to join 
     with five former Athens honorees, Mary Anne Long, Dixie 
     Liner, Mary Jane Hewgley, Grace Webb and Jean Edgar,'' 
     Arterburn said.
       A Tennessee Mothers Honor Luncheon will be held April 18 in 
     Athens, hosted by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and 
     First Baptist Church, honoring the new 1995 Mother of the 
     Year and Merit Mothers also selected.
       The state chairman for the mother of the year committee 
     will be at the luncheon, as well as Merit Mothers (runners-
     up), past mothers of the year, the state's Young Mother of 
     the Year, and special friends of Sweatt's.
       The city, the state legislature and the governor's office 
     will be presenting Sweatt with proclamations.
       ``This is a real honor for her and we want to make this 
     special for her,'' Arterburn said. ``This is certainly an 
     honor for the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and also our 
     community.''
       Arterburn said each mother of the year is special and 
     deserves recognition.
       ``We are very honored that we're always able to submit 
     these great portfolios of local mothers,'' Arterburn said. 
     ``There are very competitive nominations from other parts of 
     the state and it is a great honor for us to say the state 
     mother of the year is also the Athens mother of the year.''
       It takes a lot of work on behalf of the Mother of the Year 
     Committee, she said. There is also a lot of written materials 
     the recipient has to get together for her portfolio that has 
     to be submitted.
       ``There is a lot of work for a lot of people in order for 
     this to happen,'' Arterburn said. ``But we're always willing 
     to do the work when we have the positive results we've had.''
       Sweatt expressed her appreciation to the Chamber of 
     Commerce for its support.
       ``I'm so grateful we have an ever wonderful Chamber of 
     Commerce,'' Sweatt said. ``They do so much hard work to 
     provide us with the services they provide.
       ``I just want to thank all the people who've written 
     letters of recommendation,'' she said, ``and I have to thank 
     my friends and family for their support. I am indeed grateful 
     to them.''

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