[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 122 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO GEORGE C. WRIGHT

 Mr. COONS. Madam President, on behalf of Senator Tom Carper 
and myself, I wish to honor the exemplary service of the executive 
director of the Delaware League of Local Governments, George C. Wright 
and recognize his recent retirement. For over five decades, he has been 
a tremendous and courageous leader serving in many positions throughout 
our great State. His hard work, perseverance, and dedication will truly 
be missed.
  Since the 1960s, George has played an active and integral role within 
Delaware. For six terms, he served as councilman in the town of Smyrna 
before serving as its mayor for 14 years. Since then, George has been a 
crucial member and leader of the Delaware League of Local Governments. 
As he steps down from his position as executive director, we join the 
many Delawareans he has worked with in thanking him for his diligent 
efforts to improve and assist local governments through legislative 
advocacy.
  Born in Chesapeake City, MD and educated in the public school system 
there, George studied at several distinguished universities including 
Maryland State College in Princess Anne and the University of Delaware. 
After his graduation, George began his career during the turbulent 
1960s as Head Start director in Smyrna, a town that was once denounced 
by former Attorney General David Buckson as having the worst race 
relations in the State. George later went on to serve on the town's 
council and as the chief of staffing at the Dover Air Force Base. In 
1981 he was able to overcome many racial barriers in order to become 
the town of Smyrna and state of Delaware's first African-American 
mayor.
  Most recently, as the executive director of the Delaware League of 
Local Governments, George has successfully worked with 57 
municipalities in Delaware to help forge a common voice across the 
State. George's work has been nothing short of inspirational and we are 
sincerely grateful for all that he has done on behalf of the towns, 
cities and counties in Delaware.
  We wholeheartedly thank George for all of the work he has done for 
local governments of Delaware. His model leadership and dedication has 
truly touched every corner of our great State. We offer our sincerest 
congratulations on a job well done and wish him many happy, healthy, 
and successful years to come.

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