[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 152 (Tuesday, September 1, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING ALANA SMITH SHEPHERD

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. EARL L. ``BUDDY'' CARTER

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 1, 2020

  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Alana 
Smith Shepherd, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday. She has 
lived a life of service, and has devoted her life to healing and 
helping others.
  Alana and her family co-founded the world-renowned Shepherd Center in 
Atlanta in 1975. Over the years, the Shepherd Center has grown from a 
six-bed unit to a remarkable 152 bed rehabilitation hospital.
  The hospital specializes in medical treatment, research, and 
rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, 
and other neurological conditions. Thanks to Alana and her family's 
efforts, they have helped countless individuals get the lifesaving care 
they need.
  In addition to her work with Shepherd Center, Alana has advocated for 
accessibility to Atlanta's MARTA bus system and the Hartsfield-Jackson 
Atlanta International Airport, which is now one of the country's most 
accessible airports.
  Alana was named one of the most influential people in Atlanta by the 
Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2014, among many other awards. She has 
also been a civic leader in her community, including serving as former 
vice president and current member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, and 
the secretary of the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Paralympic 
Games.
  In 1989, Alana was the first woman elected to be a member of the 
Buckhead Coalition, and in 2003, the first woman elected as chairman of 
the Coalition.
  I am thankful for the impact she has made on the state of Georgia, 
and I am blessed to know her.

                          ____________________