[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING DR. DONALD CAPPS AND HIS WIFE, BETTY FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE 
                              TO THE BLIND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2003

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to 
join me in thanking Dr. Donald Capps and his wife, Betty for their 
leadership and 50 years of service to the blind in South Carolina.
  Dr. Donald C. Capps, a lifelong resident of South Carolina, became 
legally blind in 1953. Capps, a fighter for social change for the 
underprivileged, attended the South Carolina School for the Blind and 
the public schools of this state. Upon graduation from high school, 
Capps received his diploma from Draughton's Business College.
  He excelled after college in the vocational arena as a staff manager 
at Colonial life and Accident Insurance Company. Capps is married and 
has two children. He began his struggle for the blind with the movement 
to create the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina (NFB 
of SC).
  The NFB was originally known as the Aurora Club. Capps served several 
two-year terms as president of this organization--a position he 
currently holds.
  Under Capps' leadership, his state organization has been responsible 
for the success of many initiatives to improve programs and services 
for the blind in this state. During his tenure as president of the 
state organization, 19 pieces of legislation affecting the blind have 
been passed in South Carolina, including the model White Cane Law.
  A major accomplishment of the South Carolina affiliate under Capps' 
leadership was the 1966 establishment of the South Carolina Commission 
for the Blind, an independent state agency. Among his many activities, 
Capps is editor of the Palmetto Blind, the quarterly publication of the 
NFB of SC. In 1960 he directed a campaign which led to the construction 
of the Columbia Chapter's education and training center, which was 
expanded in 1970 and again in 1978.
  Even though Capps has worked for the blind community, he has not been 
selfish in his endeavors to assist all the state's disabled population. 
Named to the Governor's committee on Employment of the Physically 
Handicapped in 1963, Capps also was honored in 1964 as Handicapped 
Citizen of the Year by the City of Columbia and by the State.
  Capps, an active member of the Kilbourne Baptist Church, serves as a 
deacon and member of the church personnel committee.
  His honors in working with the blind continue to cross any avenues. 
He was the recipient of the prestigious Jacobus tenBroek Award, 
presented to the blind American considered to have made dedicated and 
outstanding contributions to the blind. In the many years of its 
existence, the award has only been presented three times.
  Donald C. Capps Fellowship Hall at the Federation Center of the Blind 
was named in his honor for his lifetime service.
  In 1981 Donald Capps was appointed to the Board of Commissioners of 
the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. He is the first blind 
member to be appointed to the policy-making board. In May 2001, Capps 
was given an honorary Doctorate of Public Service degree during 
commencement exercises at the University of South Carolina Spartanburg.

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