[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 171 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO BETTY RUSSELL VANDIVER

 Mr. PERDUE. Mr. President, I am pleased today to recognize 
Betty Russell Vandiver, wife of former Gov. Ernest Vandiver, who served 
as first lady of Georgia from 1959 to 1963. When Mrs. Vandiver became 
first lady, Central State Hospital in Milledgeville served as Georgia's 
only State hospital for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled. 
In the late 1950s, Central State Hospital was home to more than 12,000 
clients, many of whom had been abandoned by their families at an early 
age.
  Upon visiting the hospital, Mrs. Vandiver became very concerned about 
the plight of the clients and their living conditions. She determined 
that she would devote much of her time and energy as first lady to 
raise public awareness of the needs of Georgia's mentally ill and 
developmentally disabled.
  One of Mrs. Vandiver's initiatives to show care and concern for the 
clients at Central State Hospital was to work with the Georgia 
Municipal Association to create a statewide Christmas gift collection 
drive known as the Mayors' Motorcade, which was established in 1959 and 
expanded years later to support the clients of the State's regional 
hospitals. Each year, caring Georgians support the Mayors' Motorcade by 
donating gifts to cities participating in the program.
  Through Mrs. Vandiver's efforts, thousands of clients residing at 
Georgia's State hospitals have received Christmas gifts and visits from 
city officials at special Motorcade events.
  Today it is my pleasure to honor Mrs. Vandiver for having the vision 
to create the program as a way of providing not only gifts but also 
raising public awareness about the needs of Georgia's mentally ill and 
developmentally disabled.

                          ____________________