[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 56 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF RURAL CARRIER MANCEL PRINCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LINCOLN DAVIS

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 2, 2009

  Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize the life and service of Mancel Prince, a rural letter carrier 
from Decherd, Tennessee.
  For over thirty years, Mr. Prince has carried out a service that 
began just 5 days before Christmas in 1899, when the Post Office 
Department decided to experiment with extending rural free delivery 
across an entire county for the first time. The service proved viable, 
and today constituents like mine and all across rural America receive 
their mail from dedicated carriers like Mr. Prince.
  Today Mr. Prince is 89 years old, and has more than 70 years of 
government service in his past. He first joined the U.S. Army in 1938 
and served on active duty in World War II, where he fought for the 
Allies under the command of General Patton, as well as in the Korean 
War and the Vietnam War.
  Mr. Prince retired from active duty in 1972 as a Command Sergeant 
Major in Field Artillery, and then joined the U.S. Postal Service. He 
has served on his route for nearly thirty five years, and currently 
serves more than 460 boxes over a span of 93.5 miles per day through 
parts of three counties. He is respected by co-workers and superiors 
alike and is praised for his work ethic. I understand, too, that he is 
currently the oldest active employee in the Tennessee District and to 
my knowledge, he has no plans to retire.
  I would ask that my colleagues join me today in rising to honor a 
great servant of rural America, and a man who has dedicated so much of 
his life in service to the good of our nation.

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