[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING REGGIE COPELAND, MOBILIAN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mobile City 
Council President Reggie Copeland who was recently named ``Mobilian of 
the Year'' by the Cottage Hill Civitan Club. I cannot think of anyone 
in our community who is more deserving of this high honor than Reggie.
  Over 70 years ago, Reggie and his family moved to Mobile. He attended 
Murphy High School, Spring Hill College and the University of Alabama-
Mobile Campus. During his school years, Reggie was a star athlete in 
football, basketball and softball. And as a young man, he developed a 
passion for athletics that not only taught him the value of 
sportsmanship, but instilled in him the very best qualities of success 
through teamwork.
  After answering his county's call in the Korean conflict, Reggie 
returned stateside to embark on a long journey that would take him from 
the basketball courts to public office. After serving as a nationally 
recognized collegiate basketball official for 25 years and taking the 
role of executive with Alabama Power Company for an equal amount of 
time, Reggie found even greater challenges in leading the City of 
Mobile.
  In 1985, he was elected to the Mobile City Council and has been re-
elected six times. Currently, Reggie is in his second term as President 
of the City Council.
  Among his long and storied history of community involvement, Reggie 
is credited with helping establish Mobile's Junior Miss Program, known 
today as the Distinguished Young Woman of America, and also helped 
bring the Magnolia Grove Golf Course, of the world-renowned RSA/Robert 
Trent Jones Golf Trail, to town.
  He also led the construction, and later expansion, of the Copeland-
Cox Tennis Center, which bears his name, and is generally considered 
one of the finest public municipal tennis complexes anywhere in the 
country.
  Councilman Copeland also played a major role in helping reestablish 
minor league baseball in our city with the construction of Hank Aaron 
Stadium, home of the Mobile BayBears.
  Reggie's considerable accomplishments and recognitions include former 
President, Mobile Jaycees; former Vice President of Alabama Jaycees; 
President of the TB Health Association of Mobile County; Chairman of 
the Mobile County Red Cross Blood Drive; Chairman, United Way 
Commercial Division; President of the Southeastern Conference 
Basketball Officials Association; President of the Port City Basketball 
Officials Association of Mobile; Member of the Alabama Sports Hall of 
Fame Board; Inducted into the Amateur Softball Association Hall of 
Fame, Mobile; Inducted into the Spring Hill College Hall of Fame; 
Chairman of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, 
1995-97; Chairman of the Little Sisters of the Poor Golf Tournament, 
1995-2000; Inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, 1999; and 
member of the Board of Directors-Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.
  Reggie also assisted with the Mobile Mystics Hockey franchise and is 
currently working to develop a world-class soccer complex in Mobile. He 
also played a major role in development of the Riverfront Park and the 
Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center.
  In short, it is safe to say that there are few individuals in 
Mobile's rich history, which has spanned more than three centuries, who 
have been a more positive force for change than Mobilian of the Year 
Reggie Copeland.
  Although Reggie recently announced his intention to retire from 
elected office at the end of his present term, I know him far too well 
to believe that he is going to slow down for even a minute. Reggie 
Copeland is Mobile's own version of the Energizer Bunny, and our 
community, our region and our entire state are better places because of 
his tireless efforts and unselfish example.
  Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for all Mobilians in expressing our 
gratitude for Reggie's enormous dedication to making Mobile second to 
none. We all wish him and his fine family, including his five children 
and 13 grandchildren, all the best. Congratulations on this well-
deserved honor.

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