[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 055 (Monday, April 7, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H2828-H2829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DR. ROSWELL N. BECK POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 1055) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 1901 West Evans Street in Florence, 
South Carolina, as the ``Dr. Roswell N. Beck Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1055

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
     1901 West Evans Street in Florence, South Carolina, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Dr. Roswell N. Beck Post Office 
     Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the facility referred 
     to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     ``Dr. Roswell N. Beck Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  H.R. 1055, introduced by my distinguished colleague from the State of 
South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), designates the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 1901 West Evans Street in Florence, 
South Carolina, as the Dr. Roswell N. Beck Post Office Building.
  Mr. Speaker, the great State of South Carolina and indeed all of 
America lost a wonderful humanitarian when Dr. Roswell Nathaniel Beck, 
Sr., sadly passed away in January. Dr. Beck, who was not only a caring 
man, but in fact, a practicing physician, was probably best known as an 
ambitious community organizer and political activist in the Florence 
area. I understand he was one of the most influential and beloved 
personalities in South Carolina's 6th District, which the gentleman 
from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) represents. More importantly, Dr. 
Beck was a wonderful family man, as well as a friend to countless South 
Carolina residents, who looked up to him.
  I assure Dr. Beck's family, especially his wife, Barbara and their 
children, Janice, Celeste, and Dr. Roswell Beck, Jr., and friends that 
the thoughts and prayers of all Members in this House are with them.
  Mr. Speaker, it is very appropriate that this House recognize Dr. 
Roswell N. Beck by naming a post office building after him in his 
hometown of Florence, South Carolina. Therefore, I urge all Members to 
support the passage of H.R. 1055.
  I thank my colleague from South Carolina for introducing this 
important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am 
pleased to join the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the 
chairman, in consideration of H.R. 1055, legislation naming a postal 
facility after the late Dr. Roswell N. Beck, Sr.
  H.R. 1055, introduced by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Clyburn) on March 4, 2003, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the 
entire South Carolina congressional delegation.
  Dr. Beck was born in South Carolina, attended Fisk University and 
received his medical degree at the prestigious Meharry College of 
Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. After completing his residency in 
Baltimore, Maryland, and Mt. Sinai in New York, Dr. Beck served with 
great distinction in the Korean War as a medic in the Medical Corps. 
After winning a Bronze Star for service rendered in the war, Dr. Beck 
returned home to live and practice in Florence, South Carolina.
  Described by the many dignitaries who attended his funeral on January 
10, 2003, as a great humanitarian, physician, political power broker, 
accomplished musician and family man, Dr. Beck's life was dedicated to 
improving the quality of life for his fellow man. He organized the 
Florence Committee for Community Affairs, brought the first Head Start 
program to his town, served as chairman of the Voter Education Project, 
was an active member of the South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and 
Drug Abuse and the South Carolina Commission on Human Relations, and 
served as a trustee of the Medical University of South Carolina.

                              {time}  1415

  As chairman of the Voter Education Project, Dr. Beck was the driving 
force in promoting the need for citizens to register and vote.
  As an active member of his church and community, Dr. Beck was the 
recipient of numerous awards and citations. He is survived by his wife, 
Barbara Beck, and their three children, Janice Beck, Celeste Abdullah, 
and Dr. Roswell N. Beck, Jr.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleague, the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), for seeking to honor Dr. Roswell N. Beck, Sr., 
in this manner. I urge swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Clyburn) was trying to get here, and maybe he will come before we 
finish the next bill and will get an opportunity to speak to his bill 
naming the post office after Dr. Roswell N. Beck.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume, and while I have no further requests for time, I would 
like to ensure that the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) has 
the opportunity to place his statement, when it comes in, at the 
appropriate point in the Record. It is he and his office that have 
called this bill to our attention, and we are very happy to move it 
very quickly to honor the memory of this very great South Carolinian.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from the great State of South Carolina (Mr. 
Clyburn), the author of this legislation.
  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking 
member, and I especially thank the ranking member for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill honors the life and accomplishments of a 
consummate country doctor, the memory of a decorated Korean War 
veteran, the heroism of a courageous American, and the fearlessness of 
an outstanding South Carolinian, Dr. Roswell Nathaniel Beck, Sr.
  Dr. Beck was born in Georgetown, South Carolina. After completing 
high school, he left the safe confines of his home and matriculated at 
Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he received a bachelor 
of arts degree. After completing his course work at Fisk, Dr. Beck 
attended Meharry Medical College where he received his medical degree. 
After finishing his medical residency requirements in Baltimore, 
Maryland, Dr. Beck returned to South Carolina in 1948 and began 
practicing in Florence. He took great pride in addressing the medical 
needs of his community.
  In 1951, Dr. Beck left South Carolina once again, but this time it 
was to answer the call of his country and serve in the Korean War. Dr. 
Beck performed valiantly in the medical corps and was awarded the 
Bronze Star for service in war.

[[Page H2829]]

  Upon his return to South Carolina, Dr. Beck sought to not only 
confront the physical ailments of his community but set his sights on 
the social malignancies that afflicted so many of his patients. Dr. 
Beck was courageously and very fearlessly thrust into the vortex of the 
civil rights activities in South Carolina. He served as the chairman of 
the Voter Education Project for the sixth congressional district, where 
he tirelessly promoted the importance and the need for citizens to 
register and vote. He organized the Florence Committee for Community 
Affairs and was instrumental in bringing the first Head Start program 
to Florence, South Carolina.
  In addition to his courageousness, Dr. Beck was fearlessly following 
his heart throughout his career. He also had a keen sense of history. 
Mr. Speaker, in 1972, when Shirley Chisholm made her courageous 
history-making run for the Presidency, the record will show that she 
received two delegate votes from South Carolina. Dr. Beck was one of 
them and I the other.
  During his distinguished career, Dr. Beck also served on the boards 
of the South Carolina Commission on Human Relations and the South 
Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. He also served on the 
Board of Trustees of the Medical University of South Carolina. He was 
awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Richard W. Riley of South 
Carolina and named Medical Doctor of the Year by the intercounty 
Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association.
  Dr. Beck holds an esteemed place in the hearts of many South 
Carolinians. I am particularly proud of and owe a great deal of debt of 
gratitude to him. His work as a physician, humanitarian, community 
activist, and family man has touched the lives of multitudes. Mr. 
Speaker, I do not believe that I would be standing here today were it 
not for the courageousness and fearlessness of this man, who so many of 
us consider a hero.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Beck has received many recognitions and awards; and 
I am honored that this august body is about to bestow upon his memory 
and his family yet another. Mr. Speaker, to designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 1901 West Evans Street in 
Florence, South Carolina, as the Roswell N. Beck Post Office Building 
is not only fitting but proper.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume to simply note that it seems to me that the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) ran in good company.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I am pleased to 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume to thank the gentleman from South Carolina for introducing 
this. It is an important recognition, and I think he very lucidly laid 
out for the House his reasons for doing it.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1055.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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