[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 120 (Tuesday, August 2, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I wish to 
pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the founding of Wood, SD. This 
community in Mellette County in western South Dakota, has a rich and 
proud history of representing our State's frontier spirit.
  Wood, named for its founder, Albert Kirk Wood, was organized in 1911 
a few miles north of Albert's trading post. In just 2 years it was home 
to a newspaper, a bank, and daily mail service. Thousands of people 
came to Wood for its renowned Fourth of July celebrations, as well as 
the Mellette County Fair. Like many towns in South Dakota, the railroad 
served as a major lifeline to the town of Wood. This first train from 
the Chicago Northwestern Railroad rolled into Wood from Winner on 
October 19, 1929. Wood claims many exceptional residents including 
James Abourezk, the first Arab American to serve South Dakota in the 
U.S. Senate.
  Today, Wood stands as a testament to the steadfast commitment of the 
residents to their small town. Wood still maintains close ties to the 
rich agricultural heritage of South Dakota. Small communities like Wood 
are a vital part of the economy of South Dakota and a reminder of the 
hard struggles endured by our frontier-era forefathers. One hundred 
years after its founding, Wood remains a strong community and a great 
asset to the State of South Dakota. I am proud to honor Wood on this 
historic milestone.

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