[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF G. NELSON PERRY OF SCOTLAND, CT

                                 ______


                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 24, 1996

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a public servant of 
exemplary note and a man whom I am genuinely proud to represent, today 
and every day, Mr. G. Nelson Perry, former first selectman of Scotland, 
CT.
  In November 1995, G. Nelson Perry completed his 32d consecutive year 
as the first selectman of the town of Scotland. Nelson is to be honored 
for his 50 years of distinguished and selfless service to his town, his 
State, and his country.
  Nelson was born in Scotland, CT, in 1916 where as a child he attended 
elementary school in a two-room schoolhouse and later graduated from 
Windham High School. Immediately upon graduation, at the tender age of 
19, he went to work in Hartford, CT, in the payroll department of 
Hartford Electric Light Co. where he worked diligently for more than 6 
years.
  Then came World War II, and like so many men of his generation, 
Nelson enlisted in the Army to serve his country. He fought and served 
with distinction in the 3d Army in Europe commanded by General Patton. 
He fought to liberate Europe from the shores of Normandy all the way to 
Czechoslovakia.
  At home on leave from the Army toward the end of his enlistment, 
Nelson married Eileen Vennard of Manchester, CT, to whom he has 
remained married during the 52 years since. As the war ended, he 
returned to Scotland to farm and began to raise a family with his new 
bride. And Nelson and Eileen have raised a fine family of four sons and 
two daughters, all brought up in Scotland and instilled with the values 
taught by their parents and community. Their 6 children have given 
Nelson and Eileen the blessing of 17 grandchildren who live in Scotland 
close to their loving grandparents.
  Nelson later moved from agriculture and farming to work as a cost 
accountant with the Amstar Corp. in Sprauge, CT. He remained with 
Amstar in that capacity for 17 years.
  It was during this period of professional transition that Nelson 
began to feel an obligation and yearning to give something back to the 
local community which had been so good to him. And so, in 1951, he was 
elected to the Scotland Board of Education. And Nelson's constituents 
were inspired by his service to reelect him to six more 2-year terms, 
where he served as the board's secretary. In 1955, the Scotland 
electors elected him a State representative to the Connecticut General 
Assembly. And in 1963 we urged him to run for first selectman, a 
position where Nelson has served with distinction ever since.
  The hallmarks of Nelson's career in public service have been his 
defense of the local taxpayer, his sense of bipartisanship, and his 
desire to remain completely accessible to his constituents.
  In the words of one of his friends, Nelson ``spends Scotland's money 
like it was his own.'' In the process of exercising careful fiscal 
management of Scotland's finances, Nelson has presided over the 
building and later expansion of a local elementary school, the fire 
department has been improved, bridges have been repaired and rebuilt, 
and Nelson established Scotland's annual Memorial Day celebration which 
continues today. Nelson has faithfully executed his duties of preparing 
Scotland's annual budget, issuing permits, producing annual town 
reports, and many other responsibilities.
  G. Nelson Perry has had a remarkable career in public service and is 
a remarkable citizen of the town of Scotland. It is my honor and 
pleasure, Mr. Speaker, to share with you and the Members of this House 
Nelson Perry's achievements, and commend him for a lifetime of personal 
sacrifice and public service.

                          ____________________