[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 20, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING MR. ED WAITS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT B. ADERHOLT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2017

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a gentleman from 
my home state whose work in the area of respiratory care has 
undoubtedly saved countless lives.
  Mr. Ed Waits spent four decades working many long hours every day to 
serve patients in North Central, Alabama.
  Mr. Waits began his career in 1954 working in inhalation therapy at 
the Walker Oxygen Company. Waits would deliver oxygen tanks to local 
hospitals.
  In 1958, one of the hospitals Waits delivered oxygen to, West End 
Baptist Hospital, offered him a fulltime position as an inhalation 
therapist. As part of this position, he also provided the same service 
for Highland Baptist Hospital.
  Mr. Wait's workday began at 6:30 a.m. when most of us are just waking 
up. He would perform his duties at West End Hospital and then ride in a 
laundry truck to complete his days' work at Highland Baptist.
  The job performed by Mr. Waits could at times be very grueling. If 
the elevator did not work, he would have to carry oxygen tanks, 
weighing between 75 and 100 pounds, up five flights of stairs slung 
over his shoulder. Mr. Waits also had to be on call 24 hours a day, 
seven days a week, as he was the only inhalation therapy employee. He 
performed this non-stop service for four years before additional 
employees were hired.
  In 1963, Mr. Waits became the first president of the Alabama Society 
of Inhalation Therapists. He has also received honorary doctorate 
degrees from Miles College and the American Pulmonary Medical 
Institute. He retired from Princeton Baptist Hospital in 1994.
  Mr. Waits is also a veteran of our military. He served in the United 
States Navy from 1951 to 1955.
  He is a true servant to his community, his state and to our country. 
This is why, for posterity's sake, his accomplishments should forever 
be enshrined.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Ed Waits for his sacrifice and hard 
work on behalf of so many Alabamians over the years and for being an 
example for younger generations to look up to.

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