[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORY OF NANCY HAWK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2008

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, on Friday, October 17th, 
South Carolina lost a true Charleston Southern Lady with the death of 
Nancy Dinwiddie Hawk. A native of Virginia, Ms. Hawk spent most of her 
life in Charleston where she raised nine children, practiced law as a 
Broad Street Lawyer, and become a tireless advocate and worker for the 
needs of her community.
  I had the honor of knowing Ms. Hawk as a fellow member of First 
(Scots) Presbyterian Church and growing up with her children. She was 
truly a pioneer for women's involvement in political and civic service 
in our society.
  A fitting editorial tribute to Nancy Hawk was published on October 
19, 2008, in The Post and Courier newspaper of Charleston, South 
Carolina.

                             Nancy D. Hawk

               [From the Post and Courier, Oct. 19, 2008]

       After Nancy Dinwiddie Hawk was named the United States 
     Mother of the Year, a reporter wrote that chronicling her 
     remarkable life in politics, historic preservation and law 
     was more appropriate for a biographer than for a journalist. 
     That was in 1989. Her impressive story got more so after 
     that.
       Mrs. Hawk, who died Friday in hospice care, was a woman of 
     purpose and drive. After rearing nine successful children, 
     she enrolled at the College of Charleston to finish the 
     undergraduate degree she had begun at the University of 
     Virginia. Then, she commuted between Charleston and law 
     school in Columbia. And before it became routine to see 
     female lawyers, her shingle was hanging on Broad Street.
       What Nancy Hawk touched, Nancy Hawk influenced.
       East Bay Street might have been in the shadow of a 10-story 
     apartment building had she not succeeded in stopping the 
     planned building by saving several old warehouses.
       She worked to save historic Snee Farm, to shape plans for 
     the Crosstown to mitigate damage to the peninsula, to restore 
     the county courthouse, build the judicial center and organize 
     the Charlestowne Neighborhood Association.
       She wasn't afraid to take on controversy. She opposed 
     Charleston Place and supported Lodge Alley Inn. Both were 
     built.
       When her two bids for elected office failed--a 1975 race 
     against Joseph P. Riley Jr. for mayor and a 1976 race against 
     T. Dewey Wise for state Senate--she became vice chairman of 
     the State Republican Party.
       She later said she probably wasn't suited for politics 
     because the ``gamesmanship'' that goes along with it didn't 
     fit with her straightforward manner.
       Mrs. Hawk was born in Charlottesville, Va., but she was 
     thoroughly committed to Charleston where she moved in 1951 
     with her husband, Dr. John C. Hawk.
       First (Scots) Presbyterian Church. The Girl Scouts. 
     Charleston Civic Ballet. Charleston Opera Company. The 
     Christian Family Y. The American College of the Bulding Arts. 
     The Council of Urban Quality. H.E.L.P. Piccolo Spoleto. Meals 
     on Wheels. The Lowcountry Open Land Trust. The Charles 
     Pinckney National Historic Site. Parents Anonymous. Mason 
     Prep school. All were strengthened by her hard work and 
     support. In 1993, she received the Order of the Palmetto.
       She once told The Post and Courier, ``It's hard to live 
     with the knowledge that something happened because you didn't 
     act.'' Surely she didn't face sleepless nights on that 
     account.
       Charleston is a better place because of Nancy Hawk. The 
     city has lost a leader of strength and character.

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