[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 98 (Monday, July 16, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PAYING TRIBUTE TO SENATOR HUGH GILLIS, SR.

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                          HON. SAXBY CHAMBLISS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 16, 2001

  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Senator 
Hugh Marion Gillis, Sr. for his dedicated service to his country and to 
the state of Georgia. This year Senator Gillis his attained a 
distinction achieved by no other member of the Georgia House or the 
Senate and only one other state legislator in the nation by completing 
50 years of service in the Georgia General Assembly.
  Senator Gillis comes from a proud family tradition of public service. 
Without opposition he won the Senate seat that his father left and was 
then elected President Pro Tem, a seat his father too held. Senator 
Gillis served 12 years as a member of the House of Representatives from 
1941-44, and again from 1949-56, and he first served in the Senate from 
the 16th District in 1957-58 and returned as the Senator from the 20th 
in 1963, where he has served with dedication and diligence for 38 
consecutive years.
  Gillis was born in Soperton where he graduated from Soperton High 
School and then went on to study at Georgia Military College and earn a 
B.S. degree in agriculture from the University of Georgia.
  It has been said that ``Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if 
you want to test a man's character, give him power.''
  Senator Gillis has stood up to the challenge of leadership and power 
with wisdom and humility to be one of the most respected politicians of 
Georgia.
  He has served in the General Assembly longer than any other Senator 
currently in office. Senator Gillis is by all accounts the nation's 
longest-serving legislator. His combined Senate and House terms exceed 
50 years. In his years of service, Senator Gillis has served as the 
Chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee and a member of the 
influential Appropriations Committee. Other committees Senator Gillis 
has served on are the Reapportionment Committee and the Finance and 
Public Utilities Committee as well as the Economic Development, Tourism 
and Cultural Affairs Committee. He has also served for six years as the 
Senate President Pro-Tempore, the highest-ranking Senate official next 
to the Lieutenant Governor.
  Senator Gillis is known for his legislative work and also for his 
civic volunteering and community service. Senator Gillis has received 
numerous awards for his civic work, such as the title of Treutlen 
County Citizen of the year. Senator Gillis has served on the boards of 
Private Colleges, The Georgia Poultry Federation, Georgia Forestry 
Association, and Future Farmers of America.
  Senator Gillis is also a deacon at Soperton First Baptist Church and 
a member of the Lion's Club. He has served as chairman of the Treutlen 
County Hospital Authority for 22 years.
  Senator Gillis, a widower is the father of two sons, Hugh Jr. and 
Donald; and a daughter, Jean Marie. By profession, he is a farmer and 
timber grower.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of 
Representatives the many accomplishments that have followed in the path 
of Senator Gillis' career. I am privileged to know such a dedicated and 
upstanding citizen and to call him my good friend. I thank him for his 
efforts to improve the lives of so many others across Georgia.

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