[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 56 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING JAMES CRUDUP

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                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 10, 2006

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, each year, the University of Michigan 
medical school in Ann Arbor honors the chief resident with the 
outstanding record for research in surgery with the James W. Crudup 
Award. James Crudup of Forest, Mississippi has no medical license, no 
medical degree, and no college degree. But he had the intellect and the 
determination to learn and achieve, and along the way he trained some 
of this Nation's finest surgeons and helped to pioneer microsurgery.
  James Crudup was born in central Mississippi during the Depression. 
His mother was a midwife and his father hauled wood. He learned to work 
driving a tractor and then a truck. After serving in the Army, he 
returned to Scott County, Mississippi in 1946 to finish his education 
at Scott County Training School. He married and he and his wife moved 
near Detroit where he drove a truck for a brick company. The brick 
company ran into some trouble and James looked for a new job--what he 
found changed the lives of countless doctors and patients for years to 
come.
  He went to work with his brother Jonas at the medical school morgue. 
He cleaned surgical instruments used on animals to instruct surgeons 
and perfect techniques including organ transplants. He began practicing 
himself on animal bodies on their way to be incinerated. He borrowed 
medical books and learned terms and practices. The doctor who ran the 
lab discovered this and watched with wonder as he performed advanced 
and complex surgical procedures. Soon, residents came to see James to 
learn their lessons and he became a legend on campus.
  When Dr. Sherman Silber wanted to study transplant rejections and use 
rats as subjects, James designed and fashioned the previously 
unengineered instruments needed. Silber has said that he and James 
``basically pioneered microsurgery together.''
  Mr. Speaker, today James Crudup is retired. He lives humbly in 
Forest, Mississippi. His story is not well known but those of us who 
have heard it want to recognize him for his contributions to our 
Nation's medical heritage, as well as his gift to the American spirit. 
James is one of those hard working heroes who move through their life 
blessing others, contributing to society and making this a better 
country for his service. I hope Congress joins me in applauding and 
recognizing his contributions to medicine and the well being of doctors 
and patients alike.

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