[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 95 (Tuesday, July 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING MR. TONY CURTIS TOTTEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RICHARD BURR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 8, 1997

  Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man 
who has overcome several obstacles to lead a fulfilling life. Tony 
Curtis Totten is a talented artist, a hard worker, and a well-respected 
citizen. He also has Usher's Syndrome, an inherited condition that 
causes both hearing loss and loss of peripheral vision.
  Despite this disability, Mr. Totten was recently named Employee of 
the Year by Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind. He has also been 
nominated for the Peter J. Salmon National Blind Employee of the Year 
award. I applaud Mr. Totten for his determination to succeed and his 
dedication to his work. I believe he is an excellent candidate for this 
honor.
  By day, Mr. Totten works to produce mattresses. He has been with 
Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind for 6 years. According to his 
coworkers, he has a good attitude about work, does whatever jobs he is 
asked to do, and is quick to help others when they need assistance. 
Tony is usually ``the first person in the department to go to work, and 
the last one to stop.''
  By night, however, Mr. Totten is a gifted and devoted artist. Drawing 
is his passion, and he is able to create remarkable portraits from 
photographs. Art has been an important part of his life for many years. 
Tony has won art awards in the area, and one day hopes to operate his 
own graphic arts business.
  It is people like Tony Totten who exemplify the idea of the American 
dream. His initiative and display of personal responsibility inspires 
the people around him. Tony has already opened many doors that were 
previously closed to him and others with similar disabilities. For 
myself, for my colleagues in this House, and for our Nation, I say 
thank you Mr. Totten for showing us that nothing is impossible.

                          ____________________