[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO MR. ROBERT COULTER ``DINK'' ELDRIDGE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2003

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer a tribute to one of 
Knoxville, Tennessee's finest citizens. Many in this body and around 
the Country will not recognize his name, but when Mr. Robert Coulter 
``Dink'' Eldridge, Sr. passed away at the age of 85 on February 21, 
2003 this Nation lost a great American. Many Knoxvillians join me in 
mourning his death.
  Dink Eldridge graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1940. 
During his final years at the University, he managed the Volunteer 
Football team as they went undefeated in regular season play and 
participated in the Orange Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl. More 
than victory marked his time with the Volunteers however. Those who 
knew him at this time also remember his dedicated leadership and desire 
to see every athlete reach his fullest potential.
  In addition to his time managing the Volunteers, Dink managed the 
East Army All Star football team at Yale University with the great 
General R.R. Neyland.
  In 1942 Dink Eldridge was called to serve his Nation in the United 
States Army where he served with distinction as a second lieutenant in 
the Tank Corps. Here again, Dink proved his willingness to serve his 
fellow man and was awarded both a Purple Heart and Bronze Star medal 
for his efforts. After a brief period away from the military, Dink was 
called on again, this time in the Korean War.
  During his professional career, Dink demonstrated a deeply held 
commitment to excellence. Following his early days as a lineman for 
Bell Systems, Dink steadily rose in his career. While his supervisory 
work for Bell took him to cities across the State, Dink was eventually 
able to return to Knoxville where he served as District Engineer until 
his retirement in 1971.
  Like many leaders, Dink was unable to remain retired for long. In 
1986, he was named president of the Concord Telephone Exchange. Dink 
provided steady leadership to this organization during a period of 
tremendous growth and remained president until his second retirement in 
1993.
  With this said, Dink is possibly best known to the people of East 
Tennessee for his dedicated work in the community. His generosity of 
time touched countless lives. Through his work on the executive board 
of the Great Smoky Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America and as 
President of the Bearden Little League Baseball league alone, Dink 
passed his love of Country and community onto a generation of young 
people.
  In everything Dink did, he strove for excellence in himself and 
sought to inspire the same in those around him. I am proud to have 
known Dink for many years, but I am even more proud to have called Dink 
Eldridge a personal friend.
  To his wife Anna Yvonne I say thank-you for being such a supportive 
and loving part of his life and to his children, grandchildren and 
great-grandchildren, I simply say continue carrying the banner of 
service your father and grandfather held so high.

                          ____________________