[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 138 (Thursday, October 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING HUGH LEE ``H.L.'' CULBREATH, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM DAVIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 2, 2003

  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Hugh Lee 
``H.L.'' Culbreath Jr., one of Tampa Bay's most influential and 
charitable business leaders. H.L.'s passing last weekend is a 
tremendous loss for our entire community.
  A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, H.L. served our country in the 
Navy for 10 years. His final assignment was as a staff member to 
President Dwight Eisenhower at the White House and as officer in charge 
of Camp David.
  In 1957, H.L. returned to his native Tampa to begin working for TECO 
Energy. Over the course of his 40 years of dedicated service to TECO, 
H.L. worked his way up the ladder to become chief executive officer and 
chairman of the board. Along the way, H.L. instilled in TECO the idea 
that giving back to the community is good for business.
  H.L.'s contributions, civic activities and honors are countless, but 
his life long endeavor to improve the quality of life for Tampa Bay 
residents and bolster our city's reputation is clear. In an effort to 
enrich downtown Tampa, he fought to establish the Tampa Bay Performing 
Arts Center and served as its inaugural chairman and trustee. H.L. 
fought to bring a National Football League franchise to Tampa, and our 
Buccaneers justifiably rewarded him for his efforts by winning the 
Super Bowl this year.
  H.L. served as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Greater 
Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Committee of One Hundred, a member of 
the Mayor's Downtown Advisory Committee, a board member and chairman of 
the Hillsborough County Hospital Authority, a member of the Florida 
Council of 100, which gave him the Hall of Fame award. He was active in 
the United Way and honored for his contributions to Boy Scouting by the 
Explorers of the Boy Scouts of America, Gulf Ridge Council. The Tampa 
Civitan Club named H.L. Citizen of the Year in 1979 and the 
Hillsborough County Bar Association gave him a Liberty Bell award, in 
recognition of his community service.
  H.L. personified the attributes of leadership and service to an 
exemplary level, rarely seen in our community. For members of the Tampa 
Bay community, H.L.'s impact is as far as the eye can see and will 
endure for countless generations. On behalf of our community, I extend 
my deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

                          ____________________