[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                TRIBUTE TO MS. DOROTHY ``DOT'' B. THOMAS

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                          HON. SAXBY CHAMBLISS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 17, 2002

  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Dorothy ``Dot'' 
B. Thomas a Community Developer for Central Savannah River Area 
Economic Opportunity Authority (EOA) in Augusta, Georgia. Ms. Thomas is 
the recipient of Experience Works' 2002 Older Worker of the Year award 
for my home state of Georgia.
  Dot Thomas began her career at the EOA in 1971. Beginning first as a 
Community Developer, she studied and worked her way up to the 
Coordinator of the Energy Assistance Program. In 1996 she retired, but 
soon found herself back at EOA volunteering, mentoring new staff, and 
offering friendly advice based on her many years of experience. She was 
so valuable to the EOA that when a part-time position became available 
in 2000, Dot was convinced to come back to work saying . . . ``I so 
enjoy working, learning new things, and interacting with others that I 
sometimes wonder why I retired.''
  In her current position as Community Developer, Dot works with 
families in need--assisting them with energy assistance, food, rent, 
clothing, etc. She says her most important contribution at EOA is 
giving people hope. ``I want them to feel better about themselves when 
they leave my office. Many times people come in looking so bad. But 
when I can say something to make them feel better about themselves and 
their circumstances, it just makes my day special!'' Lola Johnson, 
director of the EOA, contributes Ms. Thomas' professional success to 
the heart and soul she puts into her work. ``Of all the accomplishments 
Dot has made over her years of service to our agency and the Central 
Savannah River Area community, probably the most important and long-
lasting ones involve the impact she has had on the clients we serve as 
well as on her co-workers.''
  Dot's dedication to improving the quality of people's lives doesn't 
end with her job. She loves and lends support to her husband of 50+ 
years, Ernest, and to the rest of her family; she makes a ``joyful 
noise'' in her church choir; and she volunteers at the local soup 
kitchen. She has also been an active member of the Georgia Community 
Action Association for more than 30 years. Ms. Johnson sums it up best, 
being a human services worker is not what Dot does for a living, ``it's 
who Dot Thomas is.''
  Mr. Speaker, please join me and all Georgians in congratulating Dot 
Thomas.

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