[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 26 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E268-E269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING RAY CHAMPINE FROM MARTIN, TN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. TANNER

                              of TENNESSEE

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2000

  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ray Champine, a longtime 
Postal Service Letter Carrier in Martin, TN, who, with no regard for 
his own safety, entered the burning home of an elderly customer in 
order to rescue him. While on his route, Mr. Champine was alerted by a 
smoke alarm and smoke emitting from the eaves of a house that there was 
a problem. After asking a neighbor to call the fire department, he 
bravely entered the house and crawled through the thick, black smoke 
until he found the elderly man near his bed in the back of the house. 
Although surrounded by the encompassing smoke and struggling to 
breathe, Mr. Champine dragged the man away from the fire in order to 
remove him to safety outside the burning home. He smashed through a 
window hoping it was the backdoor and local rescuers heard the breaking 
glass and knocked down the door closest to the broken window. Martin 
Fire Captain Dickie Hart and Police Captain Don Teal were able to bring 
both men to safety. Martin Director of Public Safety, J.D. Sanders, 
praised Mr. Champine and other rescuers, saying, ``If they hadn't shown 
up when they did, both men would probably have died at the back door. 
As it is, Mr. Champine without a doubt, is a hero.''
  Mr. Speaker, I also include an article about this heroic deed for the 
Record.

                     [Volunteer Voices, Feb. 2000]

  ``. . . Without a doubt a Hero''--Martin Carrier Risks Life To Save 
                                Customer

       Imagine standing in front of a burning building, knowing 
     there's someone inside, and knowing that unless you do 
     something to help, that person is probably going to die.
       That's the exact situation Martin, TN City Carrier Ray 
     Champine found himself facing on December 7 of last year. But 
     what he did would definitely fall into the category of 
     ``above and beyond the call.''
       Champine was making his normal deliveries on Oxford Street. 
     He had just put the mail in the box when he heard a high 
     pitched whine.
       ``I was almost sure it was a smoke alarm, but I couldn't 
     tell where it was coming from,'' said Champine. ``So I went 
     back to the previous house to see if it was coming from 
     there.''
       As Champine approached Golsby Gatewood's home, he saw a 
     wisp of smoke coming from under the eaves of the house.
       ``I asked the next-door neighbors to call the fire 
     department, but I knew Mr. Gatewood wasn't real mobile, so I 
     decided to try to help him,'' said Champine.
       After repeatedly calling to Gatewood, Champine finally 
     heard him respond. The front door was unlocked and smoke was 
     beginning to fill the room.
       ``It was already pitch black inside the house, so I kept 
     calling for Mr. Gatewood,'' said Champine. ``I finally found 
     him near his bed in the back of the house and I tried to help 
     him out the fastest way I could by dragging him out of the 
     building.''
       But by that time, the fire had spread through the front of 
     the home, blocking the front door. Champine dragged Gatewood 
     to the back of the house then tried to escape by breaking 
     what he thought was the window of the side door.
       ``The smoke was so thick I didn't realize I was breaking a 
     window that was a few feet from the door,'' Champine. ``If I 
     had known that, I would have just reached out and opened 
     it.''
       Rescuers who had just arrived on the scene, heard the 
     breaking glass and Martin Fire Capt. Dickie Hart and Police 
     Capt. Don Teal knocked down the door.
       Martin Director of Public Safety J.D. Sanders praised 
     Champine's heroic action.
       ``If Dickie and Don hadn't shown up when they did, both of 
     the men probably would have died right there by that back 
     door. As it is, Mr. Champine is without a doubt, a hero. 
     Without him, there's no question that Mr. Gatewood wouldn't 
     have made it.''
       Officers on the scene reported that the smoke was so thick 
     in the building that only Gatewood could be seen when the 
     door was opened, even though Champine was standing next to 
     the elderly gentleman.
       Champine suffered a cut on his hand from breaking the 
     window, and sustained burns to his face, ears and eyes. He 
     was hospitalized for several days following the incident for 
     severe smoke inhalation.
       Postmaster Glenn Shegog added her voice to those who 
     praised Champine.
       ``Ray is an outstanding employee and a great co-worker and 
     we're all thankful that he's on the road to recovery,'' said 
     Shegog.
       After all is said and done, Champine's only request was a 
     simple one. ``I'd really like to find my cap,'' said 
     Champine. ``I lost it somewhere in the house and I'd really 
     like to have it back.''


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