[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2029-E2030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BUTTS COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN 
                            JACKSON, GEORGIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th Anniversary 
of the Butts County Courthouse in Jackson, Georgia. The anniversary 
celebration is being held tomorrow, and I wish to submit the remarks I 
prepared for the occasion for the Congressional Record.
  I want to express my deep appreciation to the citizens of Butts 
County for inviting me to be a part of the 100th anniversary 
celebration for our county courthouse. During the long and rich history 
of our county, this beautiful building has endured the test of time. It 
has long

[[Page E2030]]

out-lived its predecessors which were all destroyed by fire.
  And over the past century, it has seen many fine men and women 
elected by their fellow citizens to honorably serve Butts County. It is 
good to see so many of those who have served here today for this 
celebration. I myself had the honor and privilege to have served as 
Chairman of the County Commission.
  It was 22 years ago Julie, my family and I began our public service. 
But I had public service running through my veins long before I ran for 
office. As most of you know, I was born here in Jackson at the O.B. 
Howell Clinic. In fact, I was spanked to life by three-term Commission 
Chairman O.B. Howell himself. I was raised by a mother who was a 
Flovilla City Councilwoman and a father who always said he wanted to 
serve on the County Commission. I was destined to be in politics.
  But my career in public service would never have occurred without the 
support, hard work and endurance of my wife, Julie, and my children. I 
began that career right here at home as Chairman of the Butts County 
Commission. I then moved to the Georgia State Senate where I served two 
terms.
  Today, I have the honor of serving as a United States Representative 
in the peoples' house in our nation's capitol. I would not have been 
able to persevere unless my family had been at my side through all of 
those years and all those campaigns. I also owe the people of Butts 
County a debt of gratitude for the support you have given me. I regret 
that state politics prevented me from representing you in the United 
States Congress.
  I have been asked, ``was it worth the time, the effort and the 
money?'' My answer is always, ``Yes.''
  I have always had a strong desire to give something back to the 
community, the state and the country that have been so good to me. And, 
at each step of the way, I have grown a little more.
  In many respects, the most challenging and rewarding office I have 
held is County Commissioner. I was young, energetic and a know-it-all. 
Serving as a Commissioner taught me the rigors of public service, and 
it taught me humility. During my first month in office, January of 
1977, a winter storm with freezing rain brought the rural roads of our 
county to a standstill. Many fine citizens volunteered to help the 
county meet the challenge of getting our roads open and people moving 
again.
  I have laughed and joked that we broke up DUIs in Butts County by 
bargaining with Probate Judge Gene Blue to sentence all of those 
convicted of DUI to 30 days on the County Commission. DUI arrests 
declined dramatically.
  The accomplishment for which I am most proud was negotiating the 
contract to install water lines connecting Jackson with Flovilla and 
Jenkinsburg.
  The saddest experience I had as Commissioner was my defeat for 
reelection in 1980. I had many goals I still wanted to accomplish for 
the people of Butts County. My good friend and fellow Commissioner, Mr. 
Everett Brisco, and I knew we would be defeated. I told him during one 
of our many rides around the County that ``a loss in this election may 
lead to a major victory in the future.''
  Time and the people of Butts County were good to me. You elected me 
to represent you in the Georgia State Senate.
  During my four years there, I had the opportunity to participate in 
shaping the laws on issues of great importance to us all--education, 
taxes, crime, the economy and many others.
  In 1993, I took on a new challenge--United States Representative for 
Third Congressional District of Georgia. I have found that many of the 
issues and concerns in which I was involved as a Butts County 
Commissioner and as a Georgia State Senator are also issues that 
concern the Congress--only on a national scale. But while we in 
Congress engage in great debates over our national defense, the 
direction of our government, the fate of the President and the future 
of our children, I am always reminded from where I come.
  Shortly after my election to Congress in 1992, I received a letter 
from my childhood friend, Frank Duke. In that letter Frank wrote, ``It 
is a long way from Flovilla, Georgia to Washington, D.C.'' He also 
enclosed a photograph of the town of Flovilla. We are now grown and 
gone our separate ways. But Frank's letter and photograph remind me of 
the hopes and ambitions we had.
  And it reminds me of the values and principles we were taught by our 
parents, our teachers, and the wonderful people of a small town. I have 
kept that letter and photograph to remind me of my home and the lessons 
I learned with Frank and the others so many years ago.
  As I conclude, I would like to read to you the quote by the great 
poet Longfellow which is printed in the dedication of the History of 
Butts County Georgia. It is worthy of reflection by all those who are 
elected to serve. It reads:

     Each one performs his work and then leaves it
     Those that come after him estimate
     His influence on the age in which he lives.

  Thank you and God Bless You.

                          ____________________