[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 147 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12374-S12375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MAYER MITCHELL

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Mayer 
Mitchell, a great American and human being who passed away on 
Wednesday, September 26, 2007. A highly successful businessman and 
remarkable philanthropist, Mayer Mitchell was a personal friend, and 
along with the entire city of Mobile, I mourn his passing.
  Mayer was born in New Orleans in 1933 and grew up in Mobile, AL. He 
earned his bachelor of science degree in economics at the University of 
Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance in 1953. He then served as an 
Army first lieutenant in Korea, earning a commendation ribbon with 
medal pendant for meritorious service.
  Returning home to Mobile with his wife Arlene in 1958, Mayer founded, 
with his brother Abe, the Mitchell Company, a commercial and 
residential real estate development firm. He went on to serve as its 
chairman and chief executive officer for the next three decades, 
selling his interest in the Mitchell Company in 1986.
  The company's final total under the oversight of the Mitchell 
brothers was remarkable, with 25,000 single family homes, 20,000 
apartments and 175 shopping centers built throughout the Southeast.
  In fact, the current Mitchell Company that descended from a 
partnership of Mayer and his brother remains the largest private firm 
in Mobile and is among the top 40 in Alabama. Mayer's business success 
earned him an induction into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2006.
  Mayer Mitchell leaves a legacy of tremendous philanthropy, touching 
the lives of many residents of south Alabama. Mayer was a tireless 
proponent of education and health care, serving more than 32 years on 
the University of South Alabama's Board of Trustees, including a term 
as chairman.
  He was awarded the University of South Alabama's National Alumni 
Association Distinguished Service Award in 2005 and an honorary 
doctorate of humane letters in 2007.
  The Mitchell family's philanthropy reached all aspects of the campus 
at the University of South Alabama, from business and medicine to 
athletics. Mayer will forever be remembered as a legendary figure in 
the growth of the University. The Mitchell Cancer Institute, the 
Mitchell College of Business and the Mitchell Center sports and 
performance complex, proudly bear the family name.
  To date, the Mitchell family holds the distinction of having 
contributed more than any other single family to a public university in 
Alabama State history.
  The Mitchell Cancer Institute alone is a powerful legacy, providing 
state-of-the-art cancer care to people throughout the gulf coast 
region. Mayer always explained his deep commitment to cancer treatment 
through a personal connection. At the age of 36, he was diagnosed with 
Hodgkin's disease and was given 6 months to live. After 2 years of 
treatments, Mayer made an extraordinary recovery.
  This victory not only shaped his life, but shaped the future of the 
Mobile region as well. He never forgot that he had to leave Mobile for 
his own cancer treatment in Rochester, NY, and he vowed to make certain 
Mobile had its own cancer center in the future.
  This experience shaped his generosity and will to persevere in the 
form of improved quality of health care for every resident in south 
Alabama.
  Although Mayer Mitchell and his family were critical to the 
tremendous growth of the University of South Alabama, this was not the 
only object of Mayer's patronage.
  A strong friend to Israel, he served a term as president of the 
American Israeli Public Affairs Committee and served on the board of 
the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the Jewish Seminary 
of America, which awarded him an honorary doctorate.
  Mayer supported several other schools and numerous social and 
religious organizations. His philanthropic service included work with 
Alabama Power Company, Wright School, Bishop State Community College, 
Leukemia Society of America, USA Foundation, AmSouth Bank, Altus Bank, 
Mobile Area United Way, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Mobile Jewish 
Welfare Fund, Mobile Federation of Jewish Charities, Mobile County Real 
Estate Association, Archives of American Art, Anti-Defamation League 
and the Banc Corporation.
  His honors include: Jewish Welfare Fund Man of the Year, Outstanding 
Young Men of America, Prichard Honorary Citizen of the Year, Mobile 
County Realtor of the Year, and numerous high honors from the Boy's 
Club of Mobile, Bishop State Community College, University of 
Rochester, New Orleans Chapter of Hadassah, Alabama Institute for the 
Deaf and Blind, Mobile Kiwanis Club and the American Hellenic 
Educational Progressive Association.
  Mayer is loved and will be missed by his wife of 54 years, Arlene; 
his son Richard; his three daughters, Melinda Wertheim, Joy Grodnick 
and Lisa Bukstein; and eight grandchildren.
  He was an inspiration to many and will be remembered for his 
dedication and many contributions to Mobile and the University of South 
Alabama.
  I ask the entire Senate to join me in recognizing and honoring the 
life of Mayer Mitchell.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Connecticut.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I ask the indulgence of the Senator 
from Vermont. I know Senator Sessions wishes to add a few words of 
tribute to Mr. Mitchell, and then Senator Sanders will have his 10 
minutes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Alabama.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I thank my colleague Senator Shelby for 
recalling the remarkable facts of the life of Mayer Bubba Mitchell, one 
of Mobile's great citizens, a national leader, as well as a local 
leader, someone who has friends throughout the country and the world. 
It is remarkable, the extent of his reach and impact. He had a clear 
vision. He wanted his life to be a life that made the world a better 
place. He worked at that. He had a strong will to do that. Senator 
Shelby and I were talking about that this morning. It was remarkable. 
He had an ability to get things accomplished. To me, one of his most 
remarkable characteristics was the fact that he could have many 
different activities going on, but he always seemed to complete each 
one of them and get it done successfully.
  At a final AIPAC banquet he attended, realizing it would be his 
last--it was recalled at his funeral service Friday--he asked these 
questions about himself but really applying to others. I think it would 
apply to all of us in the Senate. Knowing that he would not be back, he 
asked: Have I done enough? Have I done my best? Have I made a 
difference? All of us ought to ask those questions more and would 
probably be better performers when we do.
  His wonderful partner Arlene is such a fabulous person, so well 
liked, a former Mobilian of the year. She is so gracious. His son 
Richard spoke so movingly at his memorial service. His son-in-law Jimmy 
Grodnick likewise, married to his wonderful daughter Joy, made remarks. 
His grandchildren read from the Talmud such wonderful passages that 
reflected his values. His brother Abe, who has been a partner in 
business and in so many of these activities, told me afterwards it 
wasn't over. He still had things he wanted to do and he would continue 
to work at them. I know that is exactly what Mayer would have liked.
  The business school I visited at the University of South Alabama is 
so well endowed by the Mitchell family. The athletics center, the 
Mitchell Center, is where his memorial service was held, the sports 
complex. And perhaps in the long term, the greatest financial 
investment he and his family made is in the Mitchell Cancer Center that 
will be a place for research as well as treatment of those who have 
suffered with

[[Page S12375]]

cancer, because he felt so blessed, having been allowed to survive what 
many said at the time was a fatal disease.
  So many people came from all over the country to that service, it was 
really remarkable, including the Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch 
McConnell, who himself came down and was an honorary pallbearer. He was 
on a first-name basis with Presidents. Indeed, I am aware that 
President Bush called him twice in recent months. Foreign leaders, 
Senators, and Congressmen were on a first-name basis with him. His life 
is a testament to what can happen when a person focuses his life on 
making a positive difference in the world and living a good life. He 
accomplished those things. Probably outside of a public official, he 
was on a first-name basis with more Senators than maybe any other 
person in our country. There may be some others, but not many would 
know as many and be as well respected as he was over the years.
  I appreciate the opportunity to make these remarks. Not only did he 
serve on the board, chairman of the board of the University of South 
Alabama for 32 years, he gave hours and hours of his time and attention 
and ideas and ability to making that the great university it is. So he 
not only gave money, he gave of his time and of himself to make it the 
great university it is. Gordon Moulton, the president, certainly 
reflected that in his remarks.
  I thank the Chair and Senator Shelby for his excellent remarks and 
yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Connecticut.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, Mayer was a wonderful man who a lot of 
us got to know because of his leadership role in the American Israel 
Public Affairs Committee. This was a wonderful gentleman, the 
exemplification of the American dream. He worked extremely hard, made a 
great success of himself for his family, for his community, for his 
country. He loved America. He was devoted to Israel and devoted to the 
strength of the United States-Israel relationship. He was a great 
American patriot. I don't want to take the time to describe it now, but 
I am personally grateful for him for the ways in which he stuck with me 
at tough times in my own career. He didn't just stick with me, but he 
sort of worked at it to make sure everything came out all right. He was 
a good friend, a good man. God bless his soul.

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