[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S3836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      TRIBUTE TO CHARLES E. WELCH

 Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to Mr. 
Charles E. Welch, who I have had the privilege of knowing for more than 
three decades. Known to his many friends as Chuck, he is a World War II 
veteran, humanitarian, lawyer and leader in the business community in 
the State of Delaware.
  Born in 1925, Chuck is a native of Columbus, OH. He graduated with a 
B.S. in Business Administration in 1949 from The Ohio State University, 
19 years ahead of me, and went on to receive his Juris Doctor in 1951 
from the same institution. He served in the United States Army from 
1943 to 1946 as a rifle platoon leader and later served as a company 
commander in the Judge Advocate General Corps from 1952 to 1955. During 
this time, he was also employed by the Ohio Tax Department as Chief 
Counsel from 1951 to 1958.
  Chuck later moved to Delaware to work for the DuPont Company. There, 
he rose through the ranks and held the position of General Counsel 
until 1979 when he was appointed by DuPont CEO Irving S. Shapiro to the 
newly created position of Vice President for External Affairs. After a 
distinguished 26-year career with DuPont, Chuck retired from the 
company. He did not retire from an active life as a husband, father, 
grandfather and community leader. At an age when a lot of people are 
ready to slow down, Chuck picked up the pace.
  Chuck's commitment to the community and State was demonstrated most 
clearly through his passion for education and helping the disabled. 
Chuck and his late wife Charma understood the struggles of special 
needs children and were the driving forces behind the development of 
The Mary Campbell Center, a remarkable facility for individuals with 
physical and cognitive disabilities. Chuck and Charma, who themselves 
were parents of a special needs child, had the shared vision to develop 
a safe, loving place for children and young adults, and since its 
opening in 1976, The Mary Campbell Center has touched the lives of 
literally thousands of people.
  Chuck and Charma were the parents of six children: Ed, Patricia, 
John, Mary Beth, and the late Jeff and Charmie, the inspiration for The 
Mary Campbell Center. Chuck is now married to Barbara G. Welch.
  In addition to his work with The Mary Campbell Center, Chuck was a 
member of the Mt. Pleasant Board of Education from 1967-1973, Chair of 
the Vocational Education Task Force in 1986, Chair of the Delaware 
Compensation Review Commission, Member of the Judicial Nominating 
Commission, Chair of the Committee to Reorganize Farmers Bank, Head of 
the Commission to study New Castle County Government, Director of the 
Wilmington Medical Center, Past President of the Delaware Foundation 
for Retarded Children and of United Cerebral Palsy, and was appointed 
by the Governor as President of the State Board of Education in 1986 
where he served for 3 years. He was also a member of the committee for 
the Delaware Justice Center, President of the Rockledge Community 
Association and Chairman of the Advisory Board of The Mary Campbell 
Center where he continues to serve to this day.
  Over the years, Chuck's guidance to both Democratic and Republican 
party leaders has proven pivotal to Delaware's success. He served as 
co-chair of Governor Mike Castle's transition team and a member of my 
transition team when I was elected Governor. For both Mike and me, 
Chuck has been an invaluable adviser and a wonderful friend.
  Chuck's lifetime of serving others has attracted many prestigious 
awards and distinctions including The Marvel Cup from the Delaware 
State Chamber of Commerce, The J. Thompson Brown Award for Family 
Service, The Good Government Award from the Civic League for New Castle 
County, the Heart Association's Gilliam Award, an award from the 
National Conference of Christians and Jews and the First State 
Distinguished Service Award from the Delaware State Bar Association.
  I am proud to congratulate my longtime friend on a lifetime of 
achievement. He is a role model for us all. The people of Delaware, and 
especially the many children and adults who have benefitted from his 
good work, are certainly fortunate to count Chuck as a fellow 
Delawarean. The First State is a far better place in which to live and 
work because of his stewardship and his leadership.

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