[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN HONOR OF DIXON SAULS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2012

  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, in small towns across America, many special 
events are happening all the time, including high school football. On 
August 25, 2012, a special event happened in my small town of 
Farmville, North Carolina. The ``R. Dixon Sauls Athletic Field'' at 
Farmville Central High School was dedicated to Coach Dixon Sauls. Coach 
Sauls, a Farmville native, coached football at the school from 1984 to 
2007. Honor, integrity and class are the three words Athletic Director 
Larry Williford used to describe Coach Sauls, and in his usual humble 
way he accepted the honor and then began talking about everyone else 
who meant something to the Jaguar program.
  I have known Dixon Sauls since his youth. I have followed his journey 
of life and sports. He graduated Valedictorian from Farmville High 
School in 1966 where he was an outstanding Red Devil football player 
who played quarterback and safety under Coach Elbert Moye. He graduated 
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1970. He was 
the first of two sons, born in 1948 to Meta King Moore Sauls of 
Farmville, and Roland Dixon Sauls, a World War II veteran from Wayne 
County. His father died suddenly in 1956 when Dixon was just 8 years 
old and his brother, Fred, was just 5 years old. Dixon and Fred have 
been my close friends for many years, and I am grateful for their 
friendship. Today Coach Sauls is the devoted husband to Kathryn Finklea 
Sauls and father to beautiful daughters, Lindsay and Robyn.
  In 1984, Coach Sauls came back home to coach. The Jaguars won 11 
football conference championships during his tenure, and the 2003 squad 
was a state runner-up. He was the track coach for 19 years and the 
athletic director for eight years. He touched many lives during that 
time with his strong Christian faith, his stellar character and his 
faithfulness to his team and school. He instilled courage, compassion, 
respect and a hard work ethic in the young men he coached. Coach Sauls 
was a major father figure for many of the players. There is no question 
he left his mark on his players and his hometown for a lifetime.
  It is teachers and coaches across our Nation like Dixon Sauls who are 
helping to build a better America because of their hard work and 
dedication. I remember one statement I read many years ago--``If you 
want to touch the past, touch a rock; if you want to touch the present, 
touch a flower; if you want to touch the future, touch a child.'' Dixon 
Sauls, because of your commitment to young people, you have earned this 
recognition. Your community, your family and friends join in 
celebration of a job well done. Congratulations.

                          ____________________