[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E62]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN RECOGNITION OF MR. EARNEST ``ERNIE'' GREEN

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 18, 2018

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
commend a respected athlete, an accomplished businessman, a Georgia 
native, and a distinguished graduate of William H. Spencer High School 
in Columbus, Georgia, Mr. Earnest ``Ernie'' Green. As the U.S. 
Representative for the 2nd Congressional District, I am proud to share 
that Spencer High School will hold a football banquet and retirement 
ceremony for Ernie's jersey number ``29'' on Saturday, January 20, 2018 
at 7:00 pm.
  Ernie, a native of Columbus, Georgia, was a product of the Muscogee 
County public school system, and an alumnus of William H. Spencer High 
School's Class of 1958. Following high school, he enrolled at the 
University of Louisville, where he excelled in both football and 
baseball, rushing for 1,500 yards and being offered professional 
contracts for both sports.
  After spending his college years at the University of Louisville in 
1961, Ernie was drafted in the 14th round of the 1962 National Football 
League (NFL) Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He was later traded to the 
Cleveland Browns, where he played halfback and fullback from 1962 to 
1968. During his career with the Cleveland Browns, he rushed for over 
3,204 yards, and won the NFL Championship in 1964. Ernie also played on 
the winning teams in the American Football Conference (AFC)-National 
Football Conference (NFC) Pro Bowls in 1967 and 1968. Ernie played a 
total of seven seasons with the NFL, gaining 2,036 yards and 195 
passes. After receiving a knee injury he made the transition from 
football player to field coach for the Browns' running backs.
  After a successful career with the NFL, Ernie went on to become a 
businessman, civic leader, and philanthropist. In 1981, he co-founded 
Earnest Green (EG) Industries, Incorporated, a manufacturing plant that 
produces high quality products pertaining to the automotive, medical 
science, industrial, and consumer industries. Over time, his business 
expanded to include eleven plants, and locations in six states, Canada, 
the Dominican Republic, and China.
  Ernie has received several awards and honors for his philanthropic 
efforts. Some of these include: the Outstanding Philanthropist of Ohio 
by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2010 and induction 
into the Cleveland Browns' Legends Association in 2012. Another 
noteworthy milestone of Ernie's is his 13th anniversary as a breast 
cancer survivor, which was achieved in 2018.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House to join my wife Vivian 
and me, along with the more than 730,000 residents of the Second 
Congressional District of Georgia, in congratulating and commending Mr. 
Earnest ``Ernie'' Green for his outstanding athleticism, compelling 
courage, keen sense of business, and dedication to philanthropy. It has 
been said that: ``You make your living by what you get, but you make 
your life by what you give.'' Mr. Earnest ``Ernie'' Green truly made 
his life giving so much to enhance the lives of so many for so long.

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