[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 213 (Wednesday, December 16, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE CAREER AND SERVICE OF DR. TOM TERRY

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                            HON. PETER WELCH

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2020

  Mr. WELCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer congratulations to 
Dr. Thomas F. Terry on his retirement after practicing for 45 years as 
an optometrist. All but one of those years were spent in White River 
Junction, Vt., not far from his place of birth in Windsor.
  Dr. Tom Terry is a prime example of what another Vermonter, President 
Calvin Coolidge, said in Bennington in a speech on Sept. 21, 1928. 
During his speech, Coolidge talked about the state he loved--Vermont: 
``I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and 
invigorating climate, but most of all because of her indomitable 
people.''
  Coolidge's description of Vermont and her people are as apt today as 
it was more than 90 years earlier. While there have been many 
Vermonters who fit this description, but no one more than Dr. Tom Terry 
of Wilder, Vt.
  He was born in the Connecticut Valley. After graduation from Windsor 
High School, Dr. Terry graduated from Springfield College with majors 
in chemistry and physics. He then attended New England College of 
Optometry and graduated with a doctorate degree in 1975. A year later 
he returned to Vermont and set up a practice in White River Junction 
where he continued to serve his many patients, until his retirement on 
Dec. 30, 2020.
  During his years of practice, Dr. Terry developed a major interest in 
primary and medical eye care, including macular degeneration and 
glaucoma care. Dr. Terry was also trained a as low vision specialist 
and worked, as such, with the Vermont Division of the Blind.
  Dr. Terry became well-known for his skills, not only in Vermont, but 
throughout New England and in national optometric councils. He served 
for six years as President of the Vermont Optometric Association, as 
well as 17 years on the Board of Optometry for the state. For 27 years, 
Dr. Terry did service on various American Optometric Association 
committees as well as nine years as Acting Eye Clinic Chief at the 
Veterans Administration Hospital in White River Junction. Dr. Terry' s 
deep interest in health care matters also led him to serve for 10 years 
on the Board of the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in nearby Lebanon, 
N.H.
  As much as Dr. Terry enjoyed serving his many patients in Vermont and 
New Hampshire, he was also instrumental in helping his town and state 
to promote regional health, economic renewal, and prosperity. In that 
regard, Dr. Terry was on the Board of Directors of the Mas coma Savings 
Bank for 18 years, many of which as Chair of the bank's foundation 
directing charitable contributions to local, regional and state 
organizations.
  My brave state of Vermont may be small, but it is large in its spirit 
of community and service. Madam Speaker, that is why I take great 
pleasure in recounting the many commendable attributes and service of 
my constituent, Dr. Terry for the House and the nation. It clearly 
demonstrates the work that one individual can do for his town, state 
and the nation to make it a better place to live and work.
  I am pleased to congratulate Dr. Thomas Terry and to thank him for 
his long service on behalf of our Vermont community. He is one of our 
``indomitable people.''

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