[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 126 (Thursday, October 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO DALLAS CHAFFINS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 6, 2004

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Dallas Chaffins, an upstanding resident of the Fifth Congressional 
District of Kentucky. Chaffins, a 73-year-old coal miner in Eastern 
Kentucky, has been working underground for 56 years without ever having 
a lost-time injury. This remarkable accomplishment has earned him 
numerous awards and commendations, and I believe he deserves our 
recognition as well.
  Born in Big Rock, Virginia, Dallas Chaffins started working in the 
coal mines on April 5, 1948, at the Buchanan Coal Company. Although he 
was only 17-years-old then, he had already been working for 6 years 
with his father in the timber industry. It's obvious that Dallas had a 
strong work ethic instilled in him from the time he was a little boy.
  Throughout the next 6 decades, Dallas worked determinedly in the 
mines. During his career, he only took 2 years off, from October 1951 
to October 1953, so he could serve his country in the United States 
Marine Corps.
  And he's not quite ready to throw in his helmet yet.
  He still rises each morning long before the sun does and heads to the 
mines to greet his coworkers with a handshake and a smile. You see, 
Dallas is known as much for his friendly disposition as he is his 
impeccable safety record. He attributes this characteristic to his 
devout faith in God. ``I believe if a person keeps his own conscience 
clean that he will shine on the outside,'' he recently told a reporter 
for a Kentucky newspaper. ``I think the Lord has blessed me with this. 
Yes, I give him all the credit.''
  In addition to being a friend and mentor, and source of joy to 
countless miners throughout the years, Chaffins has reared 12 children 
and now enjoys spending time with 26 grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, I want to 
congratulate Dallas Chaffins on 56 years of tireless, careful service 
in the mines. His hard work and integrity is an inspiration to others, 
both young and old, and Eastern Kentucky is a better place because of 
him.

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