[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. LOUIS LYNN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2012

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a South 
Carolina entrepreneur and leading landscape designer, Dr. Louis Lynn, a 
recent recipient of the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business 
Development Agency's 2012 Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award. The Award 
recognizes exceptional leaders who have made great strides in creating 
diversity in the public or private sector. Dr. Lynn is a tremendous 
small business leader in South Carolina, and I am proud to call him a 
friend.
  Dr. Lynn is a native of Lamar, South Carolina. His childhood in a 
rural area prompted his love of nature, and he spent his youth 
participating in the 4-H club and selling produce. He also came from a 
family of entrepreneurs--his grandfather was a shop owner and his 
father, Lawton, ran a butcher plant. His father was an influential 
figure in his life, who taught him to take a sense of pride in hard 
work, and the elder Lynn was even once named South Carolina Father of 
the Year.
  In 1964, Louis Lynn entered the second freshman class to integrate 
Clemson University. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in 
Horticulture from Clemson, and went on to earn a PhD in Horticulture 
from the University of Maryland. Early in his career, Dr. Lynn was a 
research scientist. His work at Monsanto led to the development of 
Roundup' herbicide. But he was called to more hands-on 
horticultural work.
  In 1985, Dr. Lynn established ENVIRO Ag Science, Inc., which has 
become the largest African-American-owned landscape business in South 
Carolina. As the company has grown, it has added offices in Atlanta and 
Tucker, Georgia and now employs 85 full-time people. ENVIRO Ag Science, 
Inc. was recently named one of the 25 Fastest Growing Companies in 
South Carolina. His business began as a small residential landscaping 
business, but today is recognized for very high-profile projects 
including the landscaping of the Columbia Convention Center, the 
University of South Carolina Colonial Center, and BMW Manufacturing. 
Other clients include Ft. Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base, Fort Gordon and 
the Savannah River Nuclear site. As a SBA HUBZone Certified contractor, 
his firm is currently under contract with the Department of Defense for 
repair and renovation services on historic buildings at Fort Benning, 
Georgia and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
  Dr. Lynn is a man of great faith. He feels called to give back to the 
community. In 1988, he was elected to the Clemson Board of Trustees, 
and is serving his seventh four-year term. He has also served on the 
boards of the BB&T Bank, South Carolina Workforce Investment, the State 
Chamber of Commerce, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the South 
Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, the Palmetto 
Agribusiness Council, the Midlands Business Leadership Council, the 
State Museum Foundation, the South Carolina Horticulture Society and 
the South Carolina Commission of Higher Education.
  Dr. Lynn and his wife, Audrey, are the parents of three adult 
children.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Dr. Louis Lynn on receiving the prestigious Ronald H. Brown Leadership 
Award. He has made extraordinary contributions as an entrepreneur, a 
community leader, and a man of faith. I can think of no one more 
deserving of this honor.

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