[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 61 (Thursday, April 26, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S2814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO TOM MCSWAIN

 Mrs. HAGAN. Mr. President, Leadership North Carolina is an 
organization committed to engaging and informing leaders from across my 
home State. Today I wish to recognize a constituent who is a leader of 
Leadership North Carolina. Tom McSwain's service to our citizens may be 
recognized during his term as chairman of the American Traffic Safety 
Services Association from 2004 to 2006, but his leadership skills were 
forged many years before this term and he continues to lead in many 
ways. Tom is a native of Macon, GA, and a proud alumnus of the 
University of Georgia, who has a deep love for and commitment to his 
adopted home State of North Carolina. Two sources of strength for Tom 
are his wife Shawn Scott, an alumna of Leadership North Carolina Class 
IX, and his son, Jack.
  Currently, Tom serves as eastern region director with responsibility 
for company sales and activities in the Eastern United States, Latin 
and South America with Ennis-Flint. Ennis-Flint is the world's largest 
supplier of pavement marking materials and is headquartered in Dallas, 
TX.
  Tom has served in many professional capacities within the highway 
safety industry. Most prominently, he was chairman of the American 
Traffic Safety Services Association--ATSSA--from 2004 2006. ATSSA is an 
international trade association with 1,600 members who manufacture and 
install roadway safety devices such as signs, striping, guardrails, 
crash cushions, and lighting. In this role, he served as the chair of 
the past chairman's advisory council and as the president-elect of the 
ATSSA Foundation, which provides scholarships to children of 
individuals killed while working on our nation's highways. He is also a 
board member of the Road Information Program--TRIP.
  Our State has benefitted from the migration of citizens from all over 
the country, bringing their creativity and skills to North Carolina. 
Tom moved to his newly adopted home of North Carolina in 1997. 
Following his service as Chairman of ATSSA, Tom sought to transition 
his engagement and focus from the national arena to North Carolina.
  In 2006, Mr. McSwain graduated from Leadership North Carolina as a 
member of Class XIII, receiving the prestigious Stanley Frank Class 
Award. This award is presented annually in honor of the late Stanley 
Frank, chair of the LNC Founding Committee, who gave his time, talents, 
and resources to make our State a better place to live and to work. Mr. 
Frank was a Greensboro businessman and a civic giant who was one of the 
earliest, and one of the strongest supporters of LNC. Each recipient of 
this award exemplifies the spirit of Stanley Frank as selected by their 
fellow participants. Tom was the Class XIII recipient, recognized for 
his demonstrated leadership, which has made a significant improvement 
in the quality of life, economic well-being, and sense of community in 
our State. Upon graduation, Mr. McSwain expanded his commitment to 
Leadership North Carolina, serving as program chair for Class XIV and 
joining the Leadership North Carolina Board of Directors.
  Elected as chair of Leadership North Carolina in 2010, Tom has 
brought his considerable leadership experience to strengthen the 
organization during his 2-year tenure. His work has positioned the 
program for sustainability for years to come and strengthened its 
reputation among leaders in business, government, education, and 
nonprofits. The measure of a good leader is the legacy he or she leaves 
behind. Tom McSwain leaves North Carolina with 900 informed and engaged 
leaders to take the baton and help craft our State's future.
  On June 30 of this year, Tom McSwain will complete his tenure as 
chair of Leadership North Carolina. We need strong, effective leaders 
now more than ever. Tom's service to Leadership North Carolina has been 
focused on engaging, challenging, and informing future leaders. I join 
the Board of Directors of Leadership North Carolina in recognizing Tom 
for his leadership, vision, and determination.
  Tom embodies our State's motto Esse Quam Videri, to be rather than to 
seem, and I ask all my colleagues to join me in thanking Tom McSwain 
for his service to North Carolina.

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