[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 62 (Friday, April 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E682-E683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO ED LEIGH McMILLAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 27, 2012

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Ed Leigh 
McMillan II, of Brewton, a distinguished and much beloved South Alabama 
businessman who recently passed away at the age of 71.
  A native of Brewton, Ed Leigh graduated from T.R. Miller High School 
before earning college degrees in forest management from North Carolina 
State University and in finance from the University of Alabama.
  After college, he returned to Brewton to assume the position of first 
forester of the T.R. Miller Mill Company, a role that helped to launch 
his lifelong extensive forestry career.
  He served as past president and past director of Cedar Creek Land & 
Timber Inc. in Brewton, which owns timberland in South Alabama; and as 
past corporate secretary and director of the T.R. Miller Mill Company 
overseeing their timberland in South Alabama and Florida. Additionally, 
he held the position of president of Neal Land & Timber Company Inc. in 
Blountstown, Florida, and served on the Board of Directors.
  His vast business experience was not limited to timber, however. He 
was also general partner of McMillan, Ltd., of Brewton, which has 
holdings in oil and gas interests as well as timber in Alabama, 
Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. Another role he enjoyed was that of

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owner of Double ``M'' Farms of Brewton, where he raised commercial 
cross-bred cows and calves.
  Throughout his life, being a good steward of the land was always of 
utmost importance. Ed Leigh generously supported the Alabama Wildlife 
Association, the Nature Conservancy, and the Boy Scouts of America, 
among others, and received many honors and recognitions for his 
contributions.
  In 1981, Mr. McMillan received the W. Kelly Mosley Environmental 
Award for Achievements in Forestry, Wildlife and Related Resources. He 
was also recognized as an American Tree Farmer, and was honored by the 
Forest Landowner's Association as Forest Landowner of the Year in 2010. 
A year later, he was spotlighted by his alma mater, North Carolina 
State University, as the 2011 Distinguished Alumnus by the College of 
Natural Resources.
  Managing trustee of the D.W. McMillan Trust and the D.W. McMillan 
Foundation in Brewton, he was instrumental in building and 
strengthening the community through his stewardship. The Brewton 
Library, the D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital, the Brewton YMCA, 
Jefferson Davis Community College and countless individuals have been 
the recipients of the charitable generosity under his leadership. 
Fittingly, he was honored by the Brewton Chamber of Commerce as the 
1983 Man of the Year.
  On behalf of the people of South Alabama, I offer condolences to his 
wife, Elizabeth Ann; their two sons, Ed Leigh McMillan III, and Daniel 
W. McMillan; his step-daughter, Christina Johnson; and their ten 
grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and entire family. You are all 
in our thoughts and prayers.

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