[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 151 (Thursday, November 18, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO CHARLES F. ``DUSTY'' RHODES

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                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2010

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a South 
Carolinian, who has dedicated his life to motivating young men through 
baseball. Charles F. ``Dusty'' Rhodes is the founder of the South 
Carolina Storm travel baseball team in Charleston, and he has changed 
the lives of numerous young men through the program.
  In 2002, Dusty Rhodes saw a need to help boys in the Charleston area 
pursue a college education through baseball. He began the Charleston 
Storm travel baseball program with the founding principles of 
``attitude, academics, and baseball.'' Attitude was stressed by 
teaching players how to play baseball with respect for themselves, 
coaches, fellow and opposing players, umpires, and the game itself. 
Academics were stressed because many more scholarships are available to 
those who excel in academics than those who excel in baseball. The 
players had their grades checked, and the message was instilled that 
baseball would only last a few years, but a quality education would 
serve a young person for the rest of his life. The fundamentals of 
baseball were taught by coaches who had the ability to teach young men 
the correct way to play the game, in addition to upholding the attitude 
and academic goals.
  Playing on a travel baseball team did have its financial cost. 
However, the boys were never denied the opportunity to play due to 
family financial hardship. Often Dusty and his wife, Kelly, supported 
the players out of their own pockets.
  In the eight years since its inception, the team has evolved into the 
South Carolina Storm. Several hundred young men have been part of the 
program, and more than 65 of them have been afforded an opportunity to 
attend college and play baseball. One former player, Drew Miller 
provided the following testimony regarding his mentor, ``coach, leader, 
genuine, role model, giving, caring, friend and now cancer are all 
words that come to mind when the name Dusty Rhodes is brought up.''
  Madam Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in honoring 
the tremendous contributions of this remarkable community leader. Dusty 
Rhodes' commitment to helping young men through baseball grows from his 
Christian faith, his love of young people, and his love of the game of 
baseball. Now he faces personal health challenges, but his remarkable 
legacy is etched in his devotion to making the lives of young people 
better.

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