[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING BRIGADIER GENERAL GILL P. BECK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2009

  Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Brigadier General 
(BG) Gill P. Beck, who has been selected by Appalachian State 
University's (ASU) Alumni Association to be the sole recipient of its 
2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award in a ceremony to be held this 
Saturday, April 25, 2009, at the Broyhill Inn in Boone, North Carolina.
  General Beck was selected for this honor due to his remarkable record 
of leadership and service to the public in both his professional and 
military careers, and for his many contributions to civic and 
charitable causes in his community.
  A third-generation Mountaineer and third-generation North Carolina 
attorney, Gill Beck attended Appalachian State from 1974 to 1978 on a 
football and academic scholarship. Describing himself as ``the slowest 
quarterback in the state'' in high school, he showed his 
``coachability'' by switching positions and playing center in college. 
Three years later, he was named team captain and distinguished himself 
as the team's best blocker. A three time All-Southern Conference first-
team selection, he was selected as ASU's athlete of the year during his 
senior year.
  While at ASU, he distinguished himself academically as well, making 
the Chancellor's List all eight semesters, twice being named an 
Academic All-American, graduating second in his class with a 3.98 
grade-point average and earning an Army ROTC scholarship to study law 
at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. After graduating with 
High Honors from law school, he entered the Army JAG Corps, where he 
spent the next six years on active duty and represented the Army in a 
wide variety of litigation matters.
  A resident of Greensboro, Beck has served as an Assistant United 
States Attorney in the Middle District of North Carolina since 1992. He 
currently serves as the Chief of the Civil Division, United States 
Attorney's Office, where he is responsible for directing all civil 
litigation against or for the United States within the United States 
District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, as well as 
prosecuting criminal forfeitures that involve drug or money laundering 
offenses. As a federal prosecutor, he has spearheaded a number of high-
profile civil actions, including several that involve the fight against 
fraud and whose resolution protected the rights and interests of 
taxpayers. In 1997, the U.S. Department of Justice presented Gill Beck 
with its highest award, the Attorney General's Distinguished Service 
Award, for his initiative and success in one such action that recovered 
more than $180 million for taxpayers.
  Since completing his initial active duty tour in the Army, Gill Beck 
has continued his military service as an Officer and Judge Advocate in 
the U.S. Army Reserve. In a promotion ceremony at Fort Myer, Virginia, 
in December 2008 that was presided over by the Judge Advocate General 
of the Army, Lieutenant General Scott C. Black, Beck ``pinned on'' the 
rank of Brigadier General after being nominated by President Bush and 
being confirmed by the United States Senate. In an investiture ceremony 
that day, BG Beck was also installed as the Chief Judge, U.S. Army 
Court of Criminal Appeals (IMA), U.S. Army Legal Services Agency 
(USALSA).
  BG Beck's previous military assignments include Commander, 12th Legal 
Support Organization, Staff Judge Advocate Task Force 134 (Operation 
Iraqi Freedom), Staff Judge Advocate, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, and 
Brigade Judge Advocate, 108th Division (Institutional Training), and a 
total of thirteen years on active duty with tours in the 1st Infantry 
Division, 3d Armored Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and Litigation 
Division (USALSA).
  Madam Speaker, during his 2005 tour of duty in Iraq, then-Colonel 
Beck and his family provided an illustration of just how important the 
initiative and contributions of individual members of our armed forces 
and their military spouses ``back home'' are to the success of our 
military operations and humanitarian endeavors abroad. What began as a 
simple personal request to his wife, Mary Jo, to send toys, trinkets 
and candy to present to the Iraqi children turned quickly into a 
community-wide effort. ``Operation Toy Drive,'' which was coordinated 
by Mary Jo and her friend, Hillary Bouknight, resulted in the 
collection of tens of thousands of items that were transported by a 
U.S. based charity, Operation Give, and shipped by FedEx (without 
charge I might add) to the U.S. military for distribution by our U.S. 
service men and women to the children of Iraq. Indeed, not only did 
Mary Jo orchestrate the effort but the entire Beck family, including 
his sons, Gill Jr. and Jon, got into the act. In addition to collecting 
toys from others, Jon even donated a bear he had received for his 
birthday.
  Before concluding my remarks, I'd also like to make mention of BG 
Beck's outstanding commitment to his profession and voluntary service 
with the N.C. Bar Association (NCBA). He has served as a member of the 
Board of Governors of the NCBA, past Chair of the NCBA's Government and 
Public Sector Section, and while deployed to Iraq in 2005, was selected 
to receive the association's Government and Public Sector's 
Distinguished Attorney Award as North Carolina's top government and 
public sector attorney. In describing why he was chosen for the award, 
Linda Miles, the city attorney of Greensboro stated, ``Gill Beck 
embodies all of the virtues of a public servant. He is a person of 
integrity, honesty and loyalty in his service to his country in every 
way.''
  Madam Speaker, in closing, I would just note that BG Beck and his 
family are among those who represent the best of America. His 
dedication to duty, reputation for integrity, and commitment to 
improving the well-being of others, whether in his hometown and state 
or more than half a world removed, are exemplary. I am happy to convey 
my personal best wishes to General Beck and his family and ask that you 
and our colleagues in the House join me in recognizing BG Beck not only 
on the occasion of his fitting selection as Appalachian State 
University's Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for 2009, but also for 
his lifetime of service and commitment to others. -

                          ____________________