[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 73 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2511-S2512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO ALBERT HALE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today it is my privilege to 
congratulate Albert Hale, of Laurel County, KY, on his recent 
retirement after more than four decades of public service to his 
community. Hale left his position as emergency management director for 
the county earlier this year, and I would like to take this opportunity 
to join with the men and women of Laurel County in thanking him for his 
diligent service.
  After graduating from high school, Hale began working for the 
Kentucky Department of Transportation as a heavy equipment operator. 
Then in 1994, he added second career working on a part-time basis for 
the county's sheriff's department. Since he took on that new 
responsibility more than 20 years ago, Hale had been ready to answer 
any call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  Almost a decade later, Hale retired from the transportation 
department and began working full time for the sheriff's department. In 
that role, Hale coordinated with the U.S. Forest Service to assist in 
its efforts to patrol the area surrounding the Laurel Lake. In 2008, 
Hale left the sheriff's department for a position in the Laurel County 
jail's work-release program where he worked with inmates to help them 
find employment opportunities.
  Two years later, Hale heard about a vacancy at the Laurel County 
Emergency Management Department. He applied and joined the department 
in 2010 as its director. In this role, Hale leads the support 
organization to help his community prepare for, respond to, and recover 
from a wide range of emergency situations. In this position, Hale had 
the opportunity to collaborate with emergency management professionals 
from across Kentucky.
  As director, Hale remembered one particular event with great 
satisfaction. After a powerful tornado in Laurel County, a number of 
organizations and individuals came together to protect the community 
and to help it rebuild. In the face of a disaster, the citizens of 
Laurel County worked collaboratively to help their neighbors in need.
  Throughout his long career, Hale has dedicated himself time and again 
to the service of his community. As he fondly looks back on his career, 
he also remembers the many family holidays

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and occasions that he missed because of that service. So now, in his 
retirement, Hale looks forward to spending time with his wife, son, and 
grandchildren. However, if an unfortunate disaster were to strike the 
Laurel County community, Albert is ready to volunteer to serve the 
public once again.
  I would like to join with Albert Hale's family and community in 
thanking him for his lifetime of service, and I ask my colleagues in 
the Senate to join me.

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