[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 193 (Monday, December 17, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H15483-H15484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DOCK M. BROWN POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4210) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 401 Washington Avenue in Weldon, North Carolina, as 
the ``Dock M. Brown Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4210

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DOCK M. BROWN POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 401 Washington Avenue in Weldon, North 
     Carolina, shall be known and designated as the ``Dock M. 
     Brown Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Dock M. Brown Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Issa) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to rise in support of H.R. 4210, 
a bill designating the facility of the United States Post Office 
located at 401 Washington Avenue in Weldon, North Carolina, as the Dock 
M. Brown Post Office Building.
  H.R. 4210, which was introduced by Representative G.K. Butterfield of 
North Carolina on November 15, 2007, was reported from the Oversight 
Committee on December 12. This measure has been cosponsored by 12 
Members and has the support of the entire North Carolina congressional 
delegation.
  Dock Brown was a dutiful and loyal public servant to the City of 
Weldon, North Carolina. He was a teacher and served as principal for 
more than 30 years in the school system. In addition to his dedication 
to strengthening academia, Dock Brown also served 8 years as a Halifax 
County Commissioner, 2 years in the North Carolina House of 
Representatives for District Seven, 8 years as Commissioner on the 
Weldon town board, and served also on the State Agriculture Committee. 
The City of Weldon is greatly touched by his good work, his dedication 
and his efforts to strengthen their community.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge swift passage of this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of the naming of this post office the Dock M. Brown 
Post Office Building. Dock Brown was a dedicated public servant, a 
member of the community, and a shining example as a local leader.
  A veteran of the Korean war, Mr. Brown served his community as an 
educator and a politician. During a more than 30-year tenure as a 
teacher and principal at Halifax County, North Carolina, he also served 
on the community health board, chaired the county election board and 
served 19 years on the mental health board. Truly, this was a community 
leader and appropriate for naming of a post office in his hometown.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady from the 
District of Columbia for her friendship

[[Page H15484]]

and thank her for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to very briefly comment on H.R. 4210. This is a 
bill that I introduced to name the post office located at 401 
Washington Avenue in Weldon, North Carolina, after a very dear friend 
of many, many years, Mr. Dock M. Brown.
  We are seeking to name this post office as the Dock M. Brown Post 
Office Building. Dock Brown, Mr. Speaker, has been a friend and 
supporter for many years. He is a pillar of leadership in the Halifax 
County community and throughout our congressional district. And I might 
say parenthetically, Mr. Speaker, that the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia also has roots in Halifax County, North Carolina, 
and it is just ironic that she happens to be on the floor at this very 
moment.
  Mr. Speaker, Dock Brown was born on January 30, 1929, in Halifax 
County to a wonderful couple, Nelson and Vilvie Brown. Dock Brown's 
father, as was my father, was a veteran of World War I. Dock would soon 
follow in his father's footsteps by also serving our country as a 
sergeant in the United States Army.
  Mr. Brown graduated from J.A. Chaloner High School in 1948 and 
entered historic Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, that fall. 
In 1951, just 1 year before he was to graduate from that institution, 
Dock Brown was drafted into the United States Army and was given orders 
to fight in the Korean War.
  Dock Brown served 12 long months in Korea before returning to Fort 
Bragg, North Carolina, his native home State, to serve out the 
remainder of his tour. Immediately after his discharge, Dock Brown 
resumed his education at Shaw University, where he received his 
undergraduate degree in history.
  To fulfill his dream of becoming a school teacher, Dock attended 
another great institution, which was my alma mater, North Carolina 
Central University in Durham, North Carolina, where he received a 
master's degree in sociology and school administration.
  Dock Brown is an extraordinary educator. He taught history at Weldon 
High School and Eastman High School for 24 years and served as 
principal of Pittman High School for 10 years. His positive impact on 
the youth in Halifax County cannot be measured. He touched so many 
young lives, and it was Dock Brown's encouragement that has served as a 
catalyst and foundation that propelled many of those young people to 
grow into well-established, productive, progressive citizens.
  Dock Brown also served as an appointed official in Halifax County. He 
served on the County Board of Health. And for 19 years he served on the 
Board of Mental Health, where he served as chairman for the last 4 
years of his tenure. He was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award 
from the State Mental Health Association for his tireless dedication to 
the issue of mental health.
  He served 7 years as a trustee at Elizabeth City State University and 
2 years as an appointee to the Governor's Commission to evaluate 
superior court judges.
  Mr. Speaker, Dock Brown has also served, as we do, as an elected 
official. For 8 years he served as a county commissioner in Halifax 
County; 2 years in the North Carolina House of Representatives, 
representing District 7; 8 years as a commissioner on the Weldon Town 
Board.
  For his untiring service to the State of North Carolina, Dock Brown 
was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by then Governor James B. 
Hunt, Jr. This is the highest civilian honor granted to a citizen in 
North Carolina.
  Religion has played a major part in the life of Dock Brown. He has 
been an active member of the First Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids 
since the age of 11, where he served in many capacities including that 
of ordained deacon for more than 50 years.
  He has been married to his devoted wife, Helen Brooks Brown, for 54 
years. Together they have reared two children: Dock Brown, Jr. and Ivy 
Brown Singlton. Ivy is married to Lieutenant Colonel Terance Singlton, 
II, who proudly serves us in the United States Army.
  I am so proud, Mr. Speaker, to have authored this legislation to 
honor this individual. Dock Brown has dedicated his entire life to 
serving others and has touched entire generations of young people.
  This legislation has the entire support, bipartisan support, of my 
delegation. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4210.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4210.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________