[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 103 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO SHERIFF RONALD E. HEWETT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2000

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Sheriff 
Ronald E. Hewett of Brunswick County in the great state of North 
Carolina. Sheriff Hewett was recently named Sheriff of the Year for 
eastern North Carolina. This award was given to him in recognition of 
his outstanding service to the North Carolina Sheriff's Association on 
behalf of the citizens of Brunswick County.
  Beginning on his twentieth birthday in 1983 when he became the 
youngest certified Law Enforcement Officer in North Carolina, Sheriff 
Hewett has dedicated his entire career to protecting and promoting the 
rights of others. While continuing to work full-time as a law 
enforcement officer in Brunswick County, Sheriff Hewett completed his 
education at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and 
graduated in 1985 with a degree in criminal justice. Not long 
afterwards, he was promoted to uniform Patrol Sergeant in 1987 and rose 
in the ranks to become a lieutenant in 1990. He was then placed in 
charge of establishing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) 
program for Brunswick County and was named United States DARE officer 
of the Year in 1993 for his outstanding leadership.
  Since his election as Sheriff in 1994, Sheriff Hewett has fought hard 
to make Brunswick County a safer place to live and work for those who 
call it home. He has made combating illegal drugs and domestic violence 
two of his top priorities. Under his leadership, the Brunswick County 
Sheriff's Office has arrested over twelve hundred individuals for 2,300 
narcotics charges and established the county's first Domestic Violence 
Unit.
  In addition, Sheriff Hewett has also been recognized for his selfless 
service to the community with the establishment of a volunteer Buddy 
Program at the Bolivia Elementary School. As a result, the Brunswick 
County Sheriff's Office was named by Governor Hunt as one of the most 
outstanding volunteer agencies in the state in 1998.
  President John F. Kennedy once said, ``For those to whom much is 
given, much is required. And when at some future date when history 
judges us, recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled 
our responsibilities to the state, our success or failure, in whatever 
office we hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions: 
First, were we truly men of courage . . . Second, were we truly men of 
judgment . . . Third, were we truly men of integrity . . . Finally, 
were we truly men of dedication?''
  Brunswick County Sheriff Ronald Hewett will truthfully be able to 
answer each of these questions in the affirmative! He is indeed a man 
of courage, judgment, integrity, and dedication. Sheriff Hewett, may 
God's strength, joy, and peace be with you and your family as you 
continue your service and commitment to your fellow citizens.

                          ____________________