[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E21]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN MEMORY OF T. MOFFATT BURRISS, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 8, 2019

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, beginning with Gov. 
Henry McMaster lowering flags across South Carolina, tributes are being 
made to honor the memory of T. Moffatt Burriss, Sr., who is an American 
War Hero, business leader, pioneer of the modern Republican Party, and 
devoted Family Man. I include in the Record the obituary from The State 
on January 6, 2019:

                           Thomas Burriss Sr.

       Chapin SC.--Thomas Moffatt Burriss, Sr. passed away on 
     January 4, 2019 at the age of 99. He was born in Anderson, 
     SC, on Sept. 22, 1919, to Frank Judson Burriss and Frances 
     Moffatt. He had two siblings, Frank J. Burriss, and Jean 
     Burriss Wattley, both now deceased.
       Upon graduating from Clemson College in 1941, he moved to 
     Orangeburg and taught physics and science at Orangeburg High, 
     where he met his future wife, Louisa Righton Hay, of 
     Morristown, Tennessee.
       When the war broke out on December 7, 1941, Moffatt was 
     called into the service at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he 
     volunteered for paratrooper training school. While on a two 
     week leave, he and Louisa were married on June 22, 1942, in 
     Morristown, IN., by Louisa's father, a Presbyterian minister. 
     In May, 1943, Moffatt's unit was ordered to North Africa to 
     prepare for the invasion of Europe and would not see his wife 
     again for two and a half years. Moffatt was involved in 
     almost every major World War II European battle including 
     Sicily, Italy, Holland, and Belgium.
       In Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, Burriss's 
     company was the lead company in the famous Waal River 
     Crossing and the capture of the Nijmegen Bridge. As a company 
     commander, Captain Burriss's part in the battle was portrayed 
     in the movie A Bridge Too Far.
       For his service during the war, he received the Silver 
     Star, three Bronze Stars, and Combat ``V'' for valor, the 
     Purple Heart, three Presidential Unit Citations, French 
     Fourragere, Belgium Fourragere, and the Dutch Lanyard.
       After the war, Moffatt and Louisa moved to Columbia where 
     he taught school for a few years and then went into the 
     construction business.
       In 1970, Moffatt and his three sons formed Burriss 
     Construction Company which was involved in major construction 
     projects throughout the southeast. He was active in numerous 
     civic and business organizations including the Executives 
     Association of Greater Columbia (EAGC) of which he was 
     president in 1964-65, a Board Member of Lions Club, 
     Presbyterian Home of SC, Medical Missions, SC Lottery 
     Commission, and as Executive Director of the Business and 
     Industry Political Action Committee (BIPEC). Moffatt was a 
     founding member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church where he 
     served as a ruling Elder.
       In 1976, he was elected to the S.C. House of 
     Representatives where he served until he retired in 1991. He 
     was elected minority leader for nine of those years where he 
     was instrumental in building the present day Republican 
     Party. In 1989, he received the ``Order of the Palmetto'' 
     from Governor Carroll Campbell.
       In 2000, inspired and persuaded by his children, Moffatt 
     documented his war experiences by writing the book Strike and 
     Hold, a memoir of the 82nd Airborne in World War II.
       In 2009, Moffatt was invited to Holland to participate in 
     the 65th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden in Nijmegen. 
     At the ceremony Mr. Burriss was recognized by the Queen of 
     Holland and the Mayor of Nijmegen and awarded the Nijmegen 
     Medal of Honor for his part in capturing the Nijmegen Bridge 
     in 1944. Mr. Burriss celebrated his 90th birthday by once 
     again parachuting at the original WWII battle site in 
     Holland.
       Over the years, Moffatt and Louisa built their vacation 
     home at their beloved Lake Dogwood in Eastover, where he 
     enjoyed fishing in the lake. They also enjoyed vacations in 
     Montreat, N.C., where, even in his nineties, Moffatt helped 
     each of his four children build their own vacation homes.
       In the early 70's, Moffatt faced the toughest battle of his 
     life when Louisa was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's 
     Disease. He courageously cared for her until her death in 
     1986. Moffatt was later blessed to marry Jean Wheelwright 
     Dooley, who had four grown children of her own, Richard, 
     John, Mary, and Michael. Jean died in 2010. He is survived by 
     his three sons and one daughter, John Hay Burriss (Becca), 
     Moffatt Burriss Jr. (Suzanne), Francis Burriss (Nancy), and 
     Louisa ``Weesa'' Burriss (Bob Toomey); twelve grandchildren, 
     Catherine Tuttle, John Burriss, Jr., Louisa Adam (Brian), 
     Elizabeth Teal (Bart), Alle Denny (Chris), Lisa Thornton 
     (Brian), Philip Prescott, Rich Prescott, Moffatt Prescott, 
     Rachel Burriss, Thomas Burriss III, and David Burriss 
     (Rebecca); and ten great-grandchildren, all who are grateful 
     and humbled to have shared the life of this honorable 
     gentleman.
       The family would like to thank the staff at Lowman Home and 
     Lutheran Hospice for their compassionate care of Mr. Burriss 
     during his last two months.
       A memorial service will be held at Lake Murray Presbyterian 
     Church, in Chapin, on Sunday, January 13, at 3:00. The family 
     will receive visitors at the church at the conclusion of the 
     service. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is 
     assisting the family. Memorials may be made to Lake Murray 
     Presbyterian Church, 2721 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin, SC 29063. 
     Memories and condolences may be shared at 
     ShivesFuneralHome.com.

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