[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 38 (Wednesday, April 10, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO TERRY A. MATHENY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 10, 2002

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Terry A. 
Matheny, of South Carolina, a courageous and dignified man for his 
personal strength and volunteer work with physically and mentally 
challenged individuals.
  Mr. Matheny was born with a congenital birth defect called clubfoot, 
which took several surgeries and many years of rehabilitation to 
overcome. He graduated from Fairmont State College in West Virginia 
from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree. Mr. Matheny 
received a Master of Science degree from West Virginia University. He 
is currently working with the USDA-REE-Agriculture Research Service and 
has worked at the Coastal Plains, Soil, Water, and Plant Research 
Center in Florence, South Carolina for twenty-three years.
  Mr. Matheny's life experiences led him to develop a strong desire to 
help others less fortunate than himself. He has been actively involved 
with helping physically and mentally challenged individuals for the 
past eighteen years. In 1983, Mr. Matheny became a member of the local 
Civitan Club and Civitan International, which is a volunteer community 
service organization. Mr. Matheny has been a coordinator and helper in 
the South Carolina State Special Olympic Games. His involvement in the 
Special Olympics includes helping to supervise sporting events, helping 
with the awards ceremony, helping to provide entertainment between 
sporting events, and helping to serve lunch for hundreds of Special 
Olympians and volunteers.
  His long career achievements include six USDA-REE ARS Certificate of 
Merit awards for outstanding performance of duties at the center. Mr. 
Matheny has served on the American Society of Agronomy's Student Essay 
Committee for three years. He has also been involved in the Civitan's 
adopt-a-dorm project, which adopted one of the housing units at the Pee 
Dee Mental Retardation Center. Mr. Matheny also helped organize and 
construct a park at the Pee Dee Mental Retardation Center.
  I commend Mr. Matheny for his service to the physically and mentally 
challenged individuals who have dreams of participating in the Special 
Olympics and helping to turn those dreams into reality. Mr. Matheny is 
a fine citizen in every respect and I wish him continued success and 
Godspeed. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me today in 
honoring Terry A. Matheny.

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