[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 112 (Tuesday, July 12, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REMEMBERING MIKE RHYNE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mike Rhyne, a great 
man and a friend from Rutherford County, North Carolina.
  Mike served as an aldermen for Ellenboro, the same town where his 
brother, Jim, serves as mayor.
  Ellenboro is a small town, but they don't actually view themselves 
that way. In fact, Mike and his late wife, Pat, were instrumental in 
starting the town's yearly festival. When they decided to figure out a 
name on what to call it, they called it ``Ellenboro's Big Day.'' That 
was sort of Mike's personality coming through in just the naming of 
that event. In fact, Mike gave me a T-shirt--and I still have it--``The 
Big Day'' T-shirt that he gave me a few years ago.
  Mike also really deserves a lot of credit for restoring the old 
Ellenboro train depot and transforming it into the town's history 
museum. In this history museum, they pay tribute to the countless 
veterans that grew up, were raised, and came home to Ellenboro and to 
those that gave their lives in the service of our country. That really 
pays a special tribute to the community.
  To Mike's family, I extend my sympathies. Ellenboro and Rutherford 
County have lost a true public servant, and I have lost a good friend.


       Retirement of Catawba County Chamber President Danny Hearn

  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to honor a great man and 
a great friend, one of my constituents from Catawba County.
  Dave Hearn has served as president of the Catawba County Chamber of 
Commerce and has done so for the last 12 years. He recently announced 
his retirement from 43 years of work with chambers of commerce 
throughout the southeast.
  Danny is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University. Shortly after 
graduation, he went to work at the local chamber of commerce as an 
intern, and that career would last him until actually just a few months 
from now.
  He served local chambers, rising through the ranks from Norfolk, 
Virginia; Rockingham, North Carolina; Statesville, North Carolina; and 
he will finish his career in Hickory.
  Danny is well known for a couple of different things in the 
community. Danny is most well known for his commitment to small 
business. He has fought tirelessly on behalf of the small business 
community and the business community generally.
  In fact, one of the greatest accomplishments at the Catawba County 
Chamber of Commerce under Danny's leadership is the Edison project, a 
competitive contest that awards much-needed start-up capital to local 
entrepreneurs. He began this initiative in the midst of one of the 
worst economic downturns in western North Carolina history.
  Danny knows that the backbone of our local economy and the backbone 
of our country is small business. He understands that small business 
development is the key to our region's economic development, growth, 
and recovery.
  Danny's work with small businesses has truly paid off. Recent 
statistics show that wages in Catawba County are growing at a faster 
rate than most counties in the country, and this is a great success 
under Danny's leadership.
  Danny is also extraordinarily well known for his love of golf. 
Danny's second-to-last day on the job in September will be hosting the 
chamber's annual golf tournament. What a fitting way and a truly poetic 
way for Danny to end his chamber career. He will be doing two of the 
great things that he is passionate about: working with small businesses 
leaders and playing golf.
  So to Danny: You will truly be missed in Catawba County. Your 
leadership will be truly missed. However, your impact will be felt for 
generations to come. We thank you for your leadership, and I thank you 
for your friendship.

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