[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 101 (Thursday, July 1, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1264-E1265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING REV. MARK DUANE HAIL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 1, 2010

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Rev. 
Mark Duane Hail, who has lived a dedicated life of service to his 
community, the ministry, and to our Nation. Reverend Hail is a man of 
many remarkable gifts and talents, and has been devoted to employing 
those gifts to benefit his fellow man.
  In June 2010, Reverend Hail retired from the ministry after 27 years. 
He was ordained a minister in the Southern Baptist Church in 1983 and 
has served as pastor of several churches in Pulaski County, Kentucky. 
Mark was also an ordained deacon, teaching Sunday School and serving on 
church committees. Reverend Hail was also a veteran of the Korean War--
serving in the United States Navy from 1955 through 1959. He was 
awarded the China Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He later served 
as the Chaplain of the American Legion Post 38 in Somerset.
  Before entering the ministry, he taught in the Somerset Independent 
City School system for 30 years. After retiring from teaching in 1988, 
he remained active in the schools and in the community, joining the 
Retired Teachers Association, where he served as president in 1989, as 
well as serving two terms on the Somerset Independent Schools Board of 
Education. In 1990, he was elected as vice chairman of the Board of the 
Somerset Independent School System. In addition to his career as an 
educator and minister, Mark was also a farmer in the Dabney community 
for 12 years, worked as a real estate agent with Gosser Real Estate for 
20 years, and was a member of the board of directors of the Somerset 
Pulaski County Development Foundation.
  As an elected official in Somerset, Reverend Hail was very active in 
politics throughout his life. Mark was elected to three terms as the 
chairman of the Republican Party of Pulaski County. He served as county 
campaign chair for numerous Republican officials, including President 
George H.W. Bush, and Senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning. He was 
a member of the Republican Lincoln Club and served as a Republican 
precinct officer for over 20 years. He was a Kentucky Colonel and 
active in many civic organizations.
  These accomplishments only scratch the surface of Reverend Hail's 
accomplishments and contributions to his community. His work serves as 
a pattern for all of us who desire to serve our Nation. The Bible in 
First Timothy instructs us that ``the elders that rule well be counted 
worthy of double honor.'' Madam Speaker, Reverend Hail has proven he is 
worthy of at least that much and more.

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