[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO LOUIS WELDON HAMMOND

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2001

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Attorney 
Louis Weldon Hammond who, for over 37 years, tirelessly served our 
veterans and was a trailblazer in his field.
  Attorney Hanimond was bom in Ridge Spring, SC on January 5, 1939. He 
attended Morehouse College and obtained his bachelor and law degrees 
from South Carolina State College. For more than 35 years, he has been 
married to the former Loretta Thomas. They have two children, Kartika 
Loretta Hammond and Louis Weldon Hammond II.
  After graduating law school as the top Administrative Law student, 
the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Columbia, South 
Carolina, recognized his talefit and hired Mr. Hammond. His success on 
the job cast him into the role of trailblazer. Mr. Hammond was the 
first African American to hold each position as he rose through the 
ranks. The positions he held included Legal Claims Examiner, Veterans 
Claims Rating Board, Veterans Claims Examiner Authorizer, Section 
Chief, Assistant Adjudication Officer and Veterans Service Center 
Manager. He also served as an Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor 
and National Equal Employment Investigator.
  His career successes led to his appointment to a number of positions 
of distinction including Chairman of National Adjudication Officer's 
Advisory Committee, Southern Area Adjudication Officers Advisory 
Committee, and the V.A.'s top Leadership award. Mr. Hammond's 
distinguished career also led him to receive the award of first runner-
up for Federal Employee of the Year for 1977.
  Perhaps his dedicated service to the Veterans Administration stemmed 
from his distinction as a veteran himself. He rose to the rank of SGT 
E-6 (Staff Sergeant) and received numerous honors including; Good 
Conduct Medal, Army Expeditionary Medal, Army Commendation Letter, 
Outstanding Soldier of Encampment, Outstanding Soldier of Reserve Unit, 
Court Martial Coordinator--Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
  Outside his legal and military career, Mr. Hammond was, and continues 
to be, very active in his community. Mr. Hammond founded a neighborhood 
organization called New Castle Concerned Citizens, and serves as a poll 
manager in his Midway precinct. He has also participated in a number of 
other organizations. He served on the Board of Directors at Providence 
Home and the Advisory Board of Richland Northeast High School and as 
former Chairman and Treasurer of the Kitani Foundation, Past President 
of the South Carolina State College's Columbia Alumni Association, and 
past president of the Dent Middle School PTO.
  Mr. Hammond is a Life Member of the NAACP and Kappa Alpha Psi 
Fraternity. He is a member of First Calvary Baptist Church, where he 
has served as Deacon, Chairman of a $2.5 million building project, as 
the Minister's Administrative Assistant, and is a member of two choirs. 
His dedication to South Carolina veterans and to the community was 
recognized on December 19, 2000 when Governor Jim Hodges awarded Mr. 
Hammond the Silver Crescent.
  Mr. Speaker, we seldom meet people who give so tirelessly of their 
time and efforts as Louis Weldon Hammond, Sr. Please join me in paying 
tribute to this wonderful South Carolinian, a personal friend, and a 
trailblazer who earned the reputation of being a dedicated, just, 
equitable, fair and caring professional during his long and 
distinguished career.

                          ____________________