[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        HONORING SELECT MEMBERS OF THE WILCOX COUNTY COMMISSION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EARL F. HILLIARD

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 5, 1997

  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I come before you today to honor some 
select members of the Wilcox County Commission for their support of the 
historic Gee's-Bend Ferry project in Wilcox County, Alabama.
  Commission Chairman Darryl Perryman, Vice-Chairman John Clyde Riggs, 
and County Commissioners David Wright, and Lena Powell have shown an 
extraordinary amount of foresight, sound judgment, and compassion in 
fully supporting the plight of the residents of Gee's-Bend Alabama by 
re-establishing the ferry boat service which has unfairly divided their 
community since the days of segregation and Jim Crow rule. These public 
servants understood that you can not explain-away why the citizens of 
Gee's-Bend must wait up to 2 hours for an ambulance to take them to the 
hospital, or for their children to ride to-and-from school, or just to 
go to the grocery store or the bank.
  Mr. Speaker, I feel this Congress owes these aforementioned County 
Commission Members a hearty ``thank you'' and a resounding ``job well 
done.'' I myself, am gratified by their unselfish service.

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