[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 213 (Thursday, December 9, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO DR. ITALY ALBERT ``I.A.'' GREENE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 9, 2021

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
educator, a veteran, and a fellow South Carolina State University 
alumnus as he celebrates his 100th birthday. Dr. Italy Albert ``I.A.'' 
Greene was born on the auspicious day of December 25, 1921 and has been 
blessed with longevity and a full life.
  I.A. Greene was born in Williamsburg County, South Carolina and 
graduated from Wilson High School in Florence, South Carolina in 1941. 
After high school, he matriculated at South Carolina State College (now 
University), but World War II disrupted his plans. In 1942, he felt 
called to serve and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He received an 
honorable discharge in 1945 after three years of service.
  After leaving the Air Force, Dr. Greene returned to South Carolina 
State and graduated in 1948 with a degree in agriculture. Upon 
graduation, he began teaching at Rosemary High School in Andrews, South 
Carolina, where he taught agriculture, biology, chemistry, and general 
science for five years.
  In 1953, Dr. Greene was hired as the Vocational Agriculture 
Instructor at Mayo High School in Darlington, South Carolina, where he 
established the school's first Agriculture Department. While teaching 
in Darlington, he continued his higher education earning a master's 
degree in education in 1957 at South Carolina State and completing an 
additional 30 hours of post graduate work in Secondary Administrative 
Education.
  During the 1968-1969 school year, Dr. Greene became Mayo High 
School's Assistant Principal. That year he oversaw the school's 
Accreditation Committee for the Southern Association of Secondary 
Schools. After just one year as Assistant Principal, Dr. Green was 
elevated to serve as Mayo High School's Principal.
  His first year as Principal in 1969 through 1970 was historic. That 
was the year the courts ordered schools in Darlington County to 
integrate. Dr. Greene referred to his experience as ``baptism by 
fire.'' He often recalls that no college classroom or textbook could 
prepare an educator to oversee such a significant change. Yet, Dr. 
Greene says, ``it was the most dramatic and exciting period of my 
career.''
  Dr. Greene spent the rest of his career as Mayo High School's 
Principal and retired in 1983. In retirement, he has been active in the 
community; working with Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross, United 
Way, the Community Action Agency, the Lord Cares Ministry, Fellowship 
of Christian Athletes, St. John's Heritage Foundation, and Billie 
Hardee Home for Boys.
  His faith is the foundation of his life. He and his wife co-founded 
Comfort Ministries to offer Christian counseling and Bible study for 
the community. They also own two mobile home parks in Darlington County 
to support families in need of housing. St. James the Elder Theological 
Seminary of the Holy Catholic Church International awarded him an 
honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 2012.
  Dr. Greene is an active member of Bethel AME Church in Darlington, 
where he taught Bible study, Sunday school, and new member classes. He 
has also been a member of the Men's Choir and served as a class leader 
and as steward pro-tem. Dr. Greene is married to the former Effie 
Bacote of Darlington, and they are the parents of two children, 
grandparents of six, and great-grandparents of six.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in wishing 
centenarian I.A. Greene a heartfelt happy birthday. He has led a 
remarkable life and has had a tremendous impact on the lives of 
countless students and many others in his community. I offer sincere 
congratulations to Dr. Greene on reaching this significant milestone 
and extend best wishes for many more happy and healthy days.

                          ____________________