[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 68 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E855]]
                    TRIBUTE TO PHILIP G. GROSE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2004

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding public servant from the State of South Carolina, a dear 
friend, and former colleague, Philip G. Grose, Jr. Phil is officially 
retiring from State Government as Director of the South Carolina 
Executive Institute after serving in various state government 
capacities for 36 years. His extraordinary leadership and service 
deserve recognition.
  Phil is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, but he left his home 
state to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Washington and 
Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. His first professional job was 
as a staff writer and sports reporter for the Charlotte Observer in 
1960. He went on to hone his writing and investigative skills as a 
reporter for Broadcasting magazine in New York, but returned to his 
native state to accept a position at The State newspaper in Columbia. 
There he served as Sports Writer and Business Editor, before finding 
his niche as Government Affairs Editor. That assignment helped Phil 
marry his love of politics to his skill of writing, and would 
unwittingly launch his second career in government.
  In 1967, Governor Robert E. McNair recognized Phil's expertise and 
invited him to join the Governor's staff as News Secretary and Research 
Assistant. His adeptness and understanding both government and the 
media insured Phil's success in this role.
  In 1967, John Carl West succeeded Bob McNair as Governor and invited 
Phil to serve in the new administration as Executive Assistant for 
Public Affairs. It was while Phil was preparing to serve in this 
capacity that he and I first met, when after some cajoling from him I 
accepted an invitation from Governor West to join his staff and was 
placed under Phil's tutelage. Phil shared his enormous talents and his 
enthusiasm was infectious. He merged efficiency and effectiveness in a 
manner I had not seen before, and made government work fun and 
productive. I learned a great deal from him and developed a great deal 
of admiration and respect for him.
  Because of his tremendous abilities, Phil was elevated through a 
number of increasingly important positions in state government after 
Governor West tenure as Governor ended in 1975. Phil served as 
Executive Assistant to the President of the University of South 
Carolina, Chief Deputy Commissioner for the South Carolina Department 
of Social Services, Director of the South Carolina State Reorganization 
Commission, and Assistant Executive Director of the State Budget and 
Control Board.

  In 1989, Phil was tapped to serve as the Director of the Executive 
Institute, where he leads statewide executive education programs for 
public sector leaders. He also manages the South Carolina Center for 
Excellence and the Budget and Control Board's training center.
  Phil Grose is married to the former Virginia Maxwell. They have a 
daughter, Patricia Grose Williams, a son-in-law John D. Williams, and 
two grandsons, Harrison Philip Williams and David McCully Williams, all 
of Starnberg, Germany. Phil and his wife have both had very 
distinguished careers, and my wife Emily have enjoyed being a part of 
their professional and personal lives. Although Phil has decided it is 
time to retire from his official role as a public servant, I know he 
will never relinquish his role of serving the public.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite you and the members of this august body to join 
me in commending Phil Grose on his compassion, his intelligence, his 
unflagging sense of humor, and his uncompromising dedication to his 
home state. His name may not be well known, but his words and phrases 
broadly read and widely quoted. His work is evident throughout South 
Carolina state government, and serves as an inspiration to many of us 
who currently serve. The impact of his service will be felt by future 
generations of public servants, and I am proud to have him as a friend 
and to honor him today.

                          ____________________