[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2015

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 
Centennial Anniversary of Okaloosa County, Florida, located in 
Florida's First Congressional District.
  Okaloosa County is situated along Florida's Gulf Coast and was 
established in 1915 through legislation sponsored by then-Florida State 
Representative William Mapoles from Laurel Hill. It is the 52nd county 
in Florida, flanked by Santa Rosa and Walton counties, and was carved 
out of portions of both counties. Sharing the namesake of a steamboat, 
``The Okaloosa,'' meaning ``Black Water'' in Choctaw, Okaloosa County 
once consisted of small outposts and pioneers in Florida's wilderness, 
and its main economic drivers at the time of its founding were lumber, 
turpentine, and fishing.
  Over the course of the last 100 years, Okaloosa County, while still 
true to its agricultural roots, has transformed from a sparsely 
populated, simple, and rural pioneer county into a top tourist 
destination, with white pristine beaches and world-class fishing, and 
an essential area of support for our Nation's defense, which is due in 
large part to a local businessman and airplane enthusiast, James E. 
Plew. Plew's vision for the area at the height of the depression was 
one of opportunity and one that saw the advantages of attracting the 
military to the county.
  Plew proposed to donate 1,460 acres to the U.S. government for a 
bombing and gunnery range, which was accepted in 1937. A few short 
months later, the U.S. Army Air Corps mandated that the Valparaiso 
Bombing and Gunnery Base be renamed ``Eglin Field'' after Lt. Col. 
Frederick Irving Eglin. Upon establishment of the U.S. Air Force, Eglin 
Field would then bare the name of its present day, Eglin Air Force 
Base. Eglin Air Force Base, which extends across three counties is one 
of the world's largest Air Force bases and home today to several 
military major commands, including the 7th Special Forces Group, the 
Air Armament Center, the Air Force Special Operations Command, and the 
33rd Fighter Wing.
  The residents of Okaloosa County, including the thousands of military 
servicemembers and veterans who call it home, are a resilient people, 
and even through the most challenging of times, they have united as a 
community to develop and maintain its place as a key area for business 
and tourism in the State of Florida and throughout the entire Gulf 
Coast region.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me 
great pleasure to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of Okaloosa 
County, Florida. My wife Vicki joins me in congratulating all of those 
who are fortunate to call Okaloosa County home on its 100-year history 
and its proud achievements and continued success.

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