[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 161 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING DR. GARY BRANCH ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRADLEY BYRNE

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 28, 2018

  Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my friend, Dr. 
Gary Branch, on his retirement as President of Coastal Alabama 
Community College (CACC). Dr. Branch leaves a legacy of deep devotion 
to his staff and students, exceptional leadership by example, and has 
had an immeasurable impact on the lives of countless members of our 
community.
  Dr. Branch inherited an institution waiting for a leader such as 
himself. At the start of his tenure in 1981, he had to make the 
difficult decision to let go thirteen employees from then-Faulkner 
State College in the midst of a financial crisis. In true form, Dr. 
Branch was able to hire nearly all of them back to the college and has 
never faced another such crisis since.
  Moving ever upward from his start, Dr. Branch oversaw immense growth 
in enrollment at CACC, from 1,100 students at one location in 1981 to 
now nearly 8,000 students in ten counties. Not only has he spearheaded 
increased opportunity for students in south Alabama, he also instituted 
the annual Student Leadership Retreat, Gatlinburg Getaway; the Black 
Ministerial Dinner and scholarship awards; the High School Counselor's 
Dinners; the Scholar Bowl; and has overseen the creation of a women's 
intercollegiate softball league, leading to an impressive softball 
stadium benefiting our entire community.
  Throughout his entire time as President, Dr. Branch has constantly 
pushed for greater accessibility to post-secondary education for all 
students in Alabama. To this end, he was chairman of the committee that 
created the Statewide Transfer Articulation and Reporting System, 
allowing associate-degree-holding-students to transfer to four-year 
universities in Alabama, and fought for CACC to benefit from state 
sales tax in Baldwin County. Possibly most notable, he oversaw the 
consolidation of Faulkner State and other institutions into Coastal 
Alabama Community College.
  From my personal experience with him during my time as Chancellor of 
Alabama's Community College system, I can attest to Dr. Branch's 
steadfast commitment to Southwest Alabama, our students, and our 
economy. His impact will undoubtedly live on for many, many years to 
come.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the incredible service of 
Dr. Gary Branch as he leaves a legacy of 37 years to a grateful 
community. It is difficult to express our gratitude in mere words, but 
on behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the United 
States House of Representatives, we simply say: thank you.

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