[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 64 (Monday, May 16, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H3292-H3293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATING WINFRED ORRELL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor 30 years of 
service by Cobb County history teacher Winfred ``Windy'' Orrell, who is 
retiring from teaching this Friday, May 20. With admirable dedication, 
Mr. Orrell served his students not only in the classroom but also on 
the field as a coach for the football, baseball, track and cross-
country teams at Campbell and Cobb County High Schools.

[[Page H3293]]

  While some in Hollywood may know him as Julia Roberts' history 
teacher, Coach Orrell is most famous in Cobb County for his colorful 
history reenactments. His reenactment of the Battle of Vicksburg is 
legendary among his students as he crawls on his belly with imaginary 
rifle in hand, moving in and out of imaginary trenches. Mr. Orrell's 
desk has represented many ships, including the Alabama and the 
Bismarck. He knows how to get the very best out of every one of his 
students because he makes history enjoyable and memorable.

                              {time}  2000

  Mr. Orrell honed his skills at West Georgia College, where former 
Speaker of this House, Newt Gingrich, was his teacher. Mr. Orrell's 
gifts of teaching earned him two Campbell High School Teacher of the 
Year honors and five Star Teacher awards. He served as a social studies 
department head at Campbell High School for 15 years and at South Cobb 
High for 2.
  He started teaching AP courses, advanced placement, in 1982 in the 
earliest days of the program and served as a successful example for the 
budding AP program across the State of Georgia.
  As much as he loves teaching gifted students, Coach Orrell will be 
the first to tell us that the greatest moments of his teaching career 
have been helping those students in need, students that were 
disconnected from the school community and disillusioned with learning. 
He found great joy in restoring their hope and belief in the value of 
education. He let them know he believed in them and they had the 
capacity to learn and to achieve their goals.
  Mr. Orrell has influenced his students and even other teachers. He 
leaves each school a better place to teach and learn than when he 
arrived. And his departure on Friday will be no different.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the Members to join me in congratulating Coach 
Windy Orrell for his service to teaching, providing inspiration to 
future leaders, and helping make Cobb County a standard bearer for 
Georgia education.

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