[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 193 (Wednesday, December 4, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9225-H9226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE SERVICE OF MAYOR C. BRUCE ROSE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend of more 
than 40 years, Mayor C. Bruce Rose.
  Tomorrow, the city of Wilson, North Carolina, will pause to observe 
Bruce Rose Day and will rename the Headquarters Fire Station to the C. 
Bruce Rose Headquarters Station, recognizing 60 long years of 
continuous service to our city.
  Mr. Speaker, Mayor Rose graduated from Charles L. Coon High School 
and received an associate degree in applied science in fire science 
technology from Wilson Technical Community College. He also proudly 
served our country in the United States Army for 2 years.
  Mayor Rose served for 30 years with the Wilson Fire Department, 7 of 
which he served as fire chief. He attended fire schools throughout 
North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Maryland, including the 
National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He is a graduate of the 
Executive Development Course of Chief Fire Officers in Emmitsburg.
  Mayor Rose is a life member of the North Carolina Association of Fire 
Chiefs and served on its board of directors for 4 years. He is also a 
life member of the North Carolina Association of Retired Fire Chiefs 
and served, by appointment of Governor James B. Hunt, on the North 
Carolina Fire Commission. Mayor Rose received the 1999 Governor's Award 
for Outstanding Volunteer Service.
  Mayor Rose continued to serve as a goodwill ambassador for the city 
of Wilson as he was elected mayor, beginning in 1992. He has been proud 
to celebrate the progress of the city through events such as ribbon 
cuttings and groundbreakings and presentations of proclamations. He 
speaks at community events, works to bring industries into the city, 
and has worked diligently to see the city community thrive.
  He is especially proud of the Whirlygig project, which is bringing 
economic development to our city.
  Under his leadership, an $18 million surface transportation project 
is now in progress in the eastern section of our city, which is the 
African American community. The city invested $2 million into this 
project; the North Carolina Department of Transportation invested $6 
million; and, with my assistance, the city received a TIGER grant, 
under Secretary Anthony Fox, of $10 million for the project.

  During his tenure, Mayor Rose has been involved in several projects 
and

[[Page H9226]]

initiatives, such as creation of the Buckhorn Reservoir and Greenlight 
Community Broadband, which is a municipal broadband, and it is 
successful.
  He has been Wilson's longest serving mayor, after serving 27, nearly 
28, consecutive years and eight consecutive terms.
  Mayor Rose is a lifetime member of Wilson First Pentecostal Holiness 
Church, where he served as deacon and Sunday school superintendent.
  He is married to Rebecca Davis Rose. They continue to be active in 
our community and involved in church functions throughout the city. 
Mayor Rose, Mr. Speaker, is father to four children and one delightful 
grandchild.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating 
and honoring my friend, Mayor C. Bruce Rose, as he is recognized for 
60--I will repeat that again, 60--consecutive years of unselfish 
service to the city of Wilson, North Carolina. The contributions of 
Mayor Rose to the city cannot be overstated.

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