[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 137 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THOMAS R. BROWN, SOUTH TEXAS VETERANS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, SAN ANTONIO, 
                   TX, RECEIVES OLIN E. TEAGUE AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB STUMP

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 6, 1997

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, in a ceremony on Thursday, September 18, 
1997, in the House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing room, Thomas R. 
Brown, chief, Recreation Therapy Service, South Texas Veterans Health 
Care System, San Antonio, TX, received this year's Olin E. Teague Award 
for his efforts on behalf of disabled veterans.
  The Teague Award is presented annually to a VA employee whose 
achievements have been of extraordinary benefit to veterans with 
service-connected disabilities, and is the highest honor at VA in the 
field of rehabilitation.
  Under Mr. Brown's pioneering leadership in the area of wheelchair 
sports, an extraordinarily effective recreation therapy program has 
been developed in the VA system. Due to Mr. Brown's career as a 
national and international wheelchair athlete and his success as a 
coach, teacher, and motivator, in 1980 he was asked to help establish a 
national wheelchair games program for VA in conjunction with the 
International Year for Disabled Persons. In 1981, the first National 
Veterans Wheelchair Games were held in Richmond, VA, with 74 veterans 
participating. Under Mr. Brown's continuing guidance and advice, the 
games have expanded with tremendous success as a rehabilitation tool. 
Veterans travel from all over the Nation to participate, many of whom 
have never before competed in organized sporting competitions. The 
games now boast of over 550 competitors giving veterans an excellent 
opportunity to interact with their peers, to experience the thrill of 
victory, and to participate with a level of exuberance many had thought 
was lost forever.
  Mr. Speaker, the name Olin E. ``Tiger'' Teague is synonymous with 
exemplary service to the Nation's veterans. The late Congressman Teague 
served on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee for 32 years, 18 of 
those years as it distinguished chairman. No one who opposed him on 
veterans' issues ever had to ask why he was called Tiger. He set the 
standards by which we can best serve all veterans. I know my colleagues 
join me in offering our deep appreciation to Mr. Brown for his concern, 
dedication, and innovation in meeting the special rehabilitation needs 
of disabled veterans. We congratulate him for the excellence of his 
work and for the distinguished award he received.

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