[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S6440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO TEN YEARS OF SERVING THE SOUTH'S FINEST BARBEQUE

 Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I rise today to commend Mr. 
Oscar Poole, affectionately known as ``Colonel'' in the north Georgia 
town of Ellijay, who on June 4th will be celebrating his tenth year of 
business as one of our great state's foremost authorities on barbecue. 
Throughout his ten years of service in this little town resting in the 
scenic foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Colonel Poole has served 
customers both far and wide, from nearly every state in the Union, and 
more than several countries.
  The grassy embankment behind this now landmark establishment, pays 
tribute to the many thousands of customers that have passed through the 
town of Ellijay to eat the Colonel's barbecue. The embankment, referred 
to as the ``Pig Hill of Fame,'' is covered by nearly 4,000 
personalized, painted, and pig shaped signs. Individuals, families, 
tour groups, friends, Sunday school classes, and celebrities have each 
had pigs erected to memorialize their visit to one of the South's 
greatest places for barbecue. In fact, I am fortunate enough to have a 
sign in my name on this famed hill. As many in the South know, politics 
and barbecue go hand in hand. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to 
learn that governors, congressmen, Senators, statesmen, and even 
Presidential candidates have made the voyage to Colonel Poole's.
  Colonel Poole's reputation supersedes our state's boundaries. On 
three separate occasions he was the highlight of Capitol Hill. On his 
first trip to Washington, the Colonel arrived at the steps of the 
Capitol in his large yellow PigMobile and in his colorful and patriotic 
suit to deliver his hickory smoked pork to the entire Georgia 
delegation and their staffs. Much to the dismay of some in the 
delegation, word about real Georgia barbecue got around Washington so 
fast that the Colonel's rations, enough for 450 people, quickly ran 
out. On another occasion, I had the opportunity to serve what may be 
one of Georgia's finest kept secrets to several of my friends and 
colleagues here in the Senate who meet for a weekly lunch.
  While most know the Colonel as a barbecue maestro, he is a wearer of 
many hats. His customers know he is also a pianist. Others know of him 
as a preacher. This man with a big heart is all of these things and 
more.
  Inside his tin covered, pine wood restaurant the Colonel plays 
classical music, show tunes, and almost every customer request. Having 
learned to play the piano at an early age, Mr. Poole has long since 
appreciated his gift as a musician. His ability to play was good enough 
to put himself through the Methodist seminary where he was ordained a 
minister.
  His work in the Church, as a preacher and a missionary, took him to 
many rural communities here in the South and to developing countries 
like Brazil. It was this sort of compassion that enabled a north 
Georgia gentleman named Wendell Cross to approach the Colonel for 
instruction on how to read. Mr. Cross, a sixty year old man, had spent 
his entire life not knowing how to read. That was until Mr. Poole took 
him under his wing and worked with him on a daily basis for nearly 
twelve months. Eventually Mr. Cross learned to read. The story of 
compassion and friendship received nationwide media coverage and was 
shown on the popular ``Today Show.''
  More importantly, two days before the tenth anniversary of his 
business, Colonel Poole will be celebrating his 49th, I repeat, 49th 
year of marriage to his lovely wife, Edna Poole. This is a milestone 
that anyone would be extremely proud, and I am happy to report that the 
Poole's will have four sons--Michael, Greg, Keith, and Darvin--to help 
them celebrate this milestone.
  Once again, Mr. President, I would like to commend Colonel Oscar 
Poole on his tenth year of business and his 49th year of marriage. 
During this time when there are discussions of the direction of today's 
culture, Colonel Poole is an example of how leading one's life by a 
core set of good, American values--faith, family, and country--will 
result in a life of many successes.

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