[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE MR. ROBERT C. PETTY SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 13, 2009

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and indeed the entire 
state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor 
him and pay tribute to his memory.
   Robert C. Petty Sr. was a musical legend in Mobile.
   As the senior member of Mobile's Excelsior Band, Mr. Petty spent 
more than 50 years with the band, performing its Dixieland and 
conventional jazz in local Mardi Gras parades, at many Mobile weddings, 
and other special city events.
   Anyone who knew Mr. Petty knew he loved playing the trombone. In 
addition to the Excelsior Band, which has marched the streets of 
downtown Mobile for over 100 years, he had been the lead trombonist 
with the E.B. Coleman Orchestra and the C.T. Jazz Ensemble. He was a 
longtime member and former president of the Musicians Federation Union 
as well as a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he also played in the 
band.
   Mr. Petty was a 1937 graduate of Dunbar High School and received his 
Bachelor of Science degree in history from Morehouse College in 1950. 
While he was at Morehouse, he played the trombone and was awarded the 
Morehouse Service ``M'' in band for his outstanding performance. Mr. 
Petty was also a retiree of the U.S. Postal Service.
   Madam Speaker, the Excelsior Band--and Mobile Mardi Gras--will not 
be the same, and I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering this 
talented man. Robert C. Petty Sr. will be deeply missed by his family--
his wife of more than 50 years, Gloria; his seven children, Phyllis 
McArthur, Robert Petty Jr., Cynthia Taylor, Sharon Kuttner, Minda 
``Carol'' Petty, Kenneth Petty, and Wendell Petty; his 14 
grandchildren, and his two great-grandchildren--as well as the 
countless friends he leaves behind.
   Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

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