[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. EDWIN WELCH

  Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Dr. Edwin Welch 
upon his retirement as president of the University of Charleston after 
a 29-year legacy of innovation that has advanced the university into a 
world-class institution.
  As a former White House employee during the Kennedy, Johnson, and 
Nixon administrations, an ordained minister, a college professor, 
provost, and president, Dr. Welch brought a wealth of experience and 
drive to the Mountain State.
  Since his first days at U.C. in 1989, Dr. Welch had a clear vision 
for the university, keeping in mind the needs of the Charleston 
community and of West Virginia. Our State is so unique to the rest of 
the Nation. We are home to the most hard-working, creative, hospitable 
people in the country--very much self-made people. Dr. Welch knows what 
a college education means to them and to their families, and so he has 
spent his career developing new opportunities for them to use to their 
advantage. Together, with faculty, staff, and the community, Dr. Welch 
sought to forecast challenges and opportunities and to create the best 
possible strategies for maintaining a strong institution. His 
collaborative vision brought the university back from the brink of 
financial peril and allowed it to grow and thrive.
  Under his leadership, more than 20 construction projects have 
reinvigorated U.C., which has also seen a dramatic increase in 
enrollment throughout the years. In 1994, he secured one of the largest 
gifts in the university's history, which led to the construction of the 
Clay Tower Building. More recently, he oversaw the $20 million Russell 
and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center project, which serves to create a 
strong campus base for innovation that will extend into Charleston and 
the Greater Kanawha region. Additionally, Dr. Welch's wife, Dr. Janet 
Welch, has made exceptional contributions to education and the arts at 
U.C. and throughout the community. She received national recognition 
for the creation of the Erma Byrd Galley for West Virginia Women 
Artists, among her many accomplishments.
  For his efforts, Dr. Welch has earned numerous recognitions, such as 
the YMCA's Spirit of the Valley Award for his community service 
efforts, and he was also the first recipient of the Charles L. Foreman 
Award for Innovation in Private Higher Education by the Foundation for 
Independent Higher Education. In fact, he's so beloved by the community 
that there is even a towboat named after him, which you can 
occasionally see floating down the Kanawha River.
  Furthermore, one of the most respected aspects of Dr. Welch's tenure 
is his relationship with students, faculty, and staff. He once said 
that the life and work of the university is not what goes on in his 
office. It is what goes on in the interactions students have with 
faculty members, staff, and administrators. He frequently walked the 
campus or sat down for lunch in the cafeteria to hear students' 
concerns, problems, accomplishments, and their dreams. He kept all of 
this in the back of his mind when making any significant decision for 
the university.
  Dr. Welch sees education for the ever-changing environment that it 
is. He has truly laid the groundwork for all who will follow in his 
footsteps, who will constantly strive to bring the very best 
opportunities to U.C. students and to strengthen the Kanawha Valley 
region. The effects of this close-knit city-university relationship are 
profound and serve as an outstanding model for all educational 
establishments.
  While he is retiring and everyone is certain to miss his strong 
leadership, Dr. Welch's dedication and commitment to excellence will 
leave a lasting legacy with the countless lives he has touched.
  Again, I congratulate and thank Dr. Welch for his remarkable years of 
service. I am honored to wish good health and much happiness to him and 
Dr. Janet Welch in the days and years ahead.

                          ____________________