[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO CORDY WILLIAMSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a rare 
find these days--a man who has dedicated 50 years to the same employer. 
Cordy Williamson has worked for Progress Energy since 1960, and says 
about contemplating retirement, ``I love going to work and I love 
Progress Energy. Why should I retire when I have all this going for 
me?''
  Mr. Williamson first joined Progress Energy when it was known as 
Carolina Power & Light, working on the line crew. Sometimes, that meant 
digging ditches with his bare hands and a shovel. It did not seem hard 
for him, having grown up on a farm in Aynor, South Carolina where 
manual labor was a part of his everyday life.
  Even though he was comfortable with the physical aspects of the job, 
his supervisors saw promise in Mr. Williamson's leadership abilities. 
He moved up the ladder, assuming positions such as lineman, meter 
reader, and Line and Service Supervisor. These jobs took him to 
Laurinburg and Lumberton, North Carolina, and Kingstree and Florence, 
South Carolina.
  In 1987, Mr. Williamson became a distribution inspector, inspecting 
work performed by Progress Energy crews as well as tree trimming crews.
  I believe this letter by Mrs. L.B. White written to the District 
Manager's office in Florence in 1973 sums up Mr. Williamson's 50 years 
of dedication to his work:

       ``. . . Last Saturday I went in to fix lunch--no heat, no 
     lights, and a complete power failure. I immediately called 
     your service department . . . and in about twenty minutes Mr. 
     Cordy Williamson was here. It was quite a job. He was so 
     courteous and patient with me (an old woman). I wanted you to 
     know what a wonderful fellow he is and how fortunate you are 
     to have such a man with your company. I tried to pay him--no 
     pay would he accept. Such an honest, upright man (sic). Hope 
     everything good possible will come to him. I am a widow and 
     live alone and he meant much to me.''

  Mr. Williamson is the father of two daughters, Amanda and Margaret, 
and two sons, Jamie and Cordy. He enjoys fishing, motorcycle riding, 
and flying. He served the Civil Air Patrol in South Carolina and also 
flew assignments for the U.S. Customs Agency. He helped to start the 
``MayFly'' Air Show in Florence in 1986 and continues to organize the 
show today.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in 
congratulating Cordy Williamson on reaching this tremendous milestone 
in his employment with Progress Energy. His commitment to his work is 
admirable and a model for young people today to emulate. I wish him 
many more years of happiness on the job.

                          ____________________