[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 42 (Friday, March 10, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF KAY H. HIND

                                  _____
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 10, 2017

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to 
extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to an exceptional 
community leader and outstanding citizen, Ms. Kay H. Hind, on the 
occasion of her retirement from the SOWEGA Council on Aging in Albany, 
Georgia on Friday, March 31, 2017.
  Kay Hind was born in Albany, Georgia. She attended Georgia 
Southwestern College (now University) in Americus, Georgia before 
transferring to the University of Georgia, where she earned a 
bachelor's degree in Home Economics in 1951. She then worked as a Home 
Economist Extension Agent in Crawford County and Lee County, Georgia.
  Since 1967, Ms. Hind has served as Executive Director of the SOWEGA 
Council on Aging, leading the organization for 49 of the 50 years it 
has been in operation. It was established to promote the well-being and 
independence of older and disabled people in the Southwest Georgia 
area. The Council started out with an $8,000 budget, one employee, and 
one volunteer. Under Ms. Hind's leadership, the agency has been 
designated as an Area Agency on Aging by the state and expanded into a 
$6 million operation with more than 20 programs. It serves more than 
25,000 seniors per year and offers information and resources to 67,000 
seniors living in fourteen counties in Southwest Georgia.
  In 2014, the SOWEGA Council on Aging opened a new Senior Center and 
Agency Office in Albany, fulfilling Ms. Hind's longtime vision. Prior 
to the construction of the building, the agency operated out of five 
old buildings spread out across town. This 45,000 square foot state-of-
the-art facility allowed the agency to streamline operations, increase 
visibility in the community, and serve more seniors with new programs, 
including educational programs, computer classes, arts and craft 
courses, exercise programs, a fitness center, and more. In recognition 
of Ms. Hind's work and advocacy for seniors in the community, the Kay 
H. Hind Senior Life Enrichment Center was named after her, further 
cementing her great legacy.
  Ms. Hind is a familiar face around Albany, where she is an active 
member of the community. She has served in leadership roles for many 
professional and civic organizations, including the Southeastern 
Association of Area Agencies on Aging; National Association of Area 
Agencies on Aging; Southern Gerontological Society; and the Albany 
Hospice Board, among others. She is also a member of First United 
Methodist Church and Kiwanis Club, to name a few. She has been 
appointed as delegate to the White House Council on Aging several times 
and was honored by Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal with the Servant's 
Heart Award, which recognizes individuals dedicated to helping others. 
Ms. Hind has received numerous other awards and accolades for her work.
  Dr. Benjamin E. Mays often said: ``You make your living by what you 
get; you make your life by what you give.'' Not only has Ms. Hind 
established a legacy in fighting to improve the quality of life for 
seniors, but she has also done a tremendous job of giving back to the 
great city of Albany, and I am very grateful for her tireless advocacy 
to make the community stronger. A woman of great integrity, her 
efforts, her dedication, and her expertise in her field are 
unparalleled, but her heart for helping others, especially seniors, one 
of the most vulnerable populations, is what has made her life's work 
truly special.
  On a personal note, I have been blessed to know Kay Hind for many 
years and I can say without reservation that she is one of the most 
passionate and warmhearted individuals with whom I have had the 
pleasure of working. Although we will miss her leadership with the 
SOWEGA Council on Aging, we are consoled knowing that this will only 
free up more time for her to continue to be involved in the community 
and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our 
sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Kay Hind upon the occasion of 
her retirement from an outstanding career spanning nearly five decades 
with the SOWEGA Council on Aging.

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