[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 58 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2823-H2824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MILLARD VAUGHN OAKLEY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, the Upper Cumberland region of 
Tennessee is known throughout the country for its unparalleled natural 
beauty. Its rivers and streams, rolling

[[Page H2824]]

hills, farms, fields, and forests all come together to create the rich 
tapestry of the region. But just as the beauty of the land contributes 
to the character of the place I am proud to call home, so does the 
remarkable beauty of the people. The teachers and statesmen, the war 
heroes and artists of the region are the vehicles that have carried our 
most cherished traditions throughout the ages.
  Out of these great men and women, there is one in particular that I 
am proud to call my friend. Never one to shrink from a challenge, but 
he has always been ready and willing to dedicate his time and resources 
to the service of others.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Millard Vaughn Oakley, an 
accomplished Tennessean who has tirelessly dedicated his life to public 
and community service. Whether through his law practice, his service in 
the General Assembly, or his fight to improve education, Millard has 
always been a staunch advocate for the interests of Tennesseeans. 
Although it would be impossible to qualify and quantify the total 
impact that Millard's work has had on our communities, countless lives 
have been enriched because of his faith and his friendship.
  A lifelong resident of Overton County in the foothills of the 
Cumberland Plateau, Millard graduated from Livingston Academy in 1947, 
attending Tennessee Technological University, and graduated from 
Cumberland Law School in 1951. Almost immediately after earning his law 
degree, Millard began his general law practice in Livingston, 
Tennessee, which he continued until 1971.
  During that time, he was elected to four terms in the General 
Assembly and served one term in the State's constitutional convention. 
He has had numerous positions in Tennessee government, including county 
attorney, and served as our State Insurance Commissioner.
  Millard has always fought to improve education throughout Tennessee. 
He serves on the Tennessee Board of Regents, and through his financial 
support helped create the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math 
Center at Tennessee Technological University to bring a world-class 
research center into the heart of Tennessee.

                              {time}  1345

  In his hometown of Livingston, he was instrumental in coordinating 
local officials and private investors to construct the public library 
that now bears his name. He also established the Oakley First National 
Bank Foundation which provides scholarships for financially challenged 
high school seniors in Overton County.
  Through his philanthropy, Millard helped build a campus for Volunteer 
State Community College in Overton County, which now serves students 
across the Upper Cumberland.
  I am proud to be counted as one of Millard's friends, and I join them 
in wishing Millard success in all his future endeavors.

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