[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO W. GEORGE HAIRSTON III

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2001

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. W. George Hairston 
III for his outstanding contributions to the U.S. commercial nuclear 
industry and, by extension, to the nation as a whole. Mr. Hairston 
currently serves as president and CEO of Southern Nuclear Operating 
Company, and was recently inducted into the State of Alabama 
Engineering Hall of Fame in recognition of his accomplishments.
  Mr. Hairston's resume is extensive and distinguished. He is a veteran 
of the United States Army Corps of Engineers and of the Vietnam War. 
His degrees were earned at some of the top engineering universities in 
the country; such as his undergraduate engineering degree from Auburn 
University and his Master's in Nuclear Engineering from the Georgia 
Institute of Technology. Additionally, in 1991, he successfully 
completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Program for 
Senior Executives.
  Mr. Hairston is also active in his community, holding positions on 
the Board of Directors for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 
(INPO), where he also served as chairman of the INPO National Nuclear 
Accrediting Board, and the WANO-Atlanta Center Governing Board. Mr. 
Hairston is currently a member of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 
Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and the Nuclear Strategic 
Issues Advisory Committee (NSIAC). He also serves as Chairman of the 
NEI Government Relations Advisory Committee.
  It is clear that such honors and qualifications are more than most 
individuals could obtain in a lifetime. However, Mr. Hairston continues 
to strive for excellence not only in his work but also in his 
community. He stresses the importance of equality in the workplace and 
focuses on minority recruiting. Additionally, he understands the 
importance of cultivating in the nation's youth an understanding of and 
an interest in the field of engineering. By serving on the Board of 
Directors for Junior Achievement in Birmingham and the Auburn Alumni 
Engineering Council, and by chairing the INROADS/Birmingham Advisory 
Board, Mr. Hairston positions himself as a mentor for bright, young 
engineers. His refusal to remain content with serving and influencing 
any one area or group is both admirable and challenging. While his 
accomplishments are many, it is his concern for his fellow citizens and 
his country that truly set him apart.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Mr. W. George Hairston III, 
an outstanding businessman, leader, and servant to the community.

                          ____________________