[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO RICHARD GROVOM

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                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join 
me in paying tribute to Richard Grovom as he prepares to donate his 
307th pint of blood to the American Red Cross.
  Richard began donating blood in 1945 when he was in the U.S. Army. 
One of his fellow soldiers needed emergency surgery and Richard stepped 
forward and donated blood. He continued donating on and off over the 
next 10 years until 1955. At that time his oldest daughter was born 
with a peptic ulcer. She was 2 days old, bleeding, and was given 
donated blood. The kindness of that anonymous person inspired Richard 
and he decided to make donating blood an ongoing part of his life. His 
motto is ``It is better to give than receive.''
  When Richard had donated his 36th gallon of blood the Red Cross 
presented him with a case to hold the gallon pins he had earned over 
the years. He has now earned both his 37th and 38th gallon pins and the 
blood he donated when stationed at Camp Roberts in California is not 
included in this amount. A resident of Grand Blanc, Michigan, Richard 
is a retired tool and die foreman with Chevrolet. He is part of the 
elite group of Americans that donate blood. The American Red Cross 
estimates that 5 percent of our population donates blood, but 95 
percent of Americans will need blood at least once in their lifetime.
  Mr. Speaker please join me in congratulating Richard Grovom for his 
immense achievement and may God bless him for his generosity to his 
fellow citizens.

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