[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    LEXINGTON PARK CORPORATE CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 1996

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I recently had the honor of presiding at the 
groundbreaking for the Lexington Park Corporate Center, a project 
undertaken by Millison Development. The groundbreaking ceremony 
signified the opening of a development which will be occupied by three 
companies--DCS, Semcor, and the Rail Co.--conveniently located to serve 
the Patuxent River Naval Base.
  The companies that will occupy this new center were not here during 
the changes brought in the 1940's when this rural community was 
transformed from one dependent on farming and seafood, to one that is 
now technology driven.
  A family that has been in St. Mary's throughout the expansion and 
that has played a significant role in what has become one of the 
broadest expansions of a military base in our country is none other 
than the Millison family. Theirs is a long and solid history of support 
of the Navy and small business entrepreneurship. The Millison's family 
story is worth sharing with my colleagues.
  Israel ``Jake'' Levine was a native of Lithuania. He bought his 
peddlers' license from a man named Millison and soon changed his name 
to reflect the name atop the important document. Israel Millison, who 
is the grandfather of J. Laurence Millison, the current president of 
Millison Development, then purchased a store from a Mr. Pearson around 
1925 and later sold the business to his sons, Samuel and Hiram.
  Hiram Millison continued to operate the store as Millison brothers, 
even after his brother Sammie left the business, until 1943 when the 
Government purchased his store and other Cedar Point properties to 
build the naval base.
  When the Navy moved in during the Second World War to consolidate 
several naval air test bases and establish Patuxent River as one of the 
premier such bases in the world, many families were very rapidly 
displaced from their homes and business. Most were forced to leave 
within 20 days of receiving their property appraisals and then it took 
6 months or more to get their money.
  Hiram used his money to build a store and restaurant outside the main 
gate of the new base and subsequently developed a number of properties 
in the town that became known as Lexington Park. Upon his death in 
1965, Hiram Millison's obituary described him as a man who ``planted 
seeds of progress.''
  Hiram Millison saw opportunity when others were reeling from the 
trauma of disruption. He proved to be a great visionary--serving as the 
first president of the Patuxent River Council of the Naval League. This 
council played an important role in providing the community support for 
the Navy and the start of a tradition that has become a key reason that 
consolidation of bases continue to redound to the benefit of Patuxent 
River today.
  Today, we see this same support of the Navy with Hiram's son Larry, 
who has served as a county commissioner, as a member of the board of 
education, and, in his role as a businessman, in his support of 
organizations like the Navy Alliance. Now, another Millison--Rachelle--
is involved in the family business and she has proven herself as a 
citizen with community spirit who will not only continue to reap the 
seeds sown by her family, but she will also continue to sow seeds for 
future generations, as her father and grandfather did in the past.
  I know that the companies involved with the Patuxent River base are 
experiencing disruption as a result of consolidations. Employees may be 
relocating from Crystal City, VA or Warminster, PA.
  Aaron Davidson is a native Pennsylvanian. He works for Semcor and 
along with his wife, will follow his job in Warminster down to 
Patuxent. In so doing, he has convinced many of his coworkers to follow 
suit. I want to assure Aaron, and the many other families relocating to 
this area, that this community is eager to have you and will do 
everything it can to make the transition for you and other families as 
smooth as possible.
  In the transition and change brought on by this consolidation, I hope 
that you--like Hiram Millison--will come to find opportunities here and 
join with the Millisons and other proud families, planting seeds in 
this great community for future generations.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting the Millison 
family. Their story of perseverance, community spirit, and patriotism 
is a shining example of what this great country can produce when 
opportunity is seized.

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