[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 23, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE LIFE OF COLONEL HOUSTON T. ``TERRY'' HAWKINS, RET. USAF

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DUNCAN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2021

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Colonel 
Houston T. ``Terry'' Hawkins, who made his trip home on June 14, 2021, 
with his wife, Martha Butts Hawkins by his side.
  Born in Seneca, South Carolina, Colonel Hawkins was known by his 
friends and family as ``Terry.'' In 1959, Terry graduated from Seneca 
High School with honors and went on to further his education at Clemson 
College, which is now known as Clemson University. There, he was a 
member of the ROTC program and graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry in 
1963. Following his graduation, he was stationed at Wright Patterson 
Air Force Base (AFB) in Dayton, Ohio. While on leave, he asked Martha 
Butts on a date, which began a beautiful and lifelong love. The two 
were married on October 3, 1965, and later welcomed two beautiful 
daughters into the world. He was a devoted disciple of Christ and a 
member of the White Rock Baptist Church.
  In 1967, Terry was stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan to 
serve in the Vietnam War. After returning home to the U.S., Terry and 
Martha moved to several different locations as he rose through the 
ranks within the United States Air Force (USAF). Terry was later 
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel which brought his family to the 
Washington, D.C. area where he completed three consecutive assignments. 
Terry became the leader of the Defense Intelligence Agency's Nuclear 
Energy Division from 1979 to 1983. After, he served as the Special 
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Air Force Nuclear Matters, 
then transferred to the Defense Nuclear Agency in 1987. Finally, Terry 
joined the Los Alamos National Laboratory where he served our great 
nation for 30 more years. Terry received numerous awards and 
recognitions throughout his career, most notably the Chief Justice Earl 
Warren Medallion awarded by the CIA. He will be laid to rest on June 
23, in his hometown of Seneca.
  Reflecting on the life of Colonel Hawkins, I am reminded strongly of 
the verse John 15:13: ``Greater love has no one than this: to lay down 
one's life for one's friends.'' From a young age, Colonel Hawkins 
selflessly and nobly served his country. I am proud of the leadership 
and service Colonel Hawkins showed.
  Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to be able to serve the Third 
District of South Carolina and to honor the lives of patriots like 
Colonel Hawkins. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and 
friends during this time

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