[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4516-H4517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING THE POWELL PANTHERS CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL TEAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Burchett) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, might I say that is a wonderful outfit 
you are wearing today.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Powell Panthers 
football team for winning its first-ever Tennessee Secondary School 
Athletic Association State championship in 2021.
  On December 3, 2021, the Panthers defeated the Page High School 
Patriots

[[Page H4517]]

by a final score of 42-34 at Chattanooga's Finley Stadium to win the 
Class 5A BlueCross Bowl championship. That is the equivalent to our 
State championship, if anybody is wondering.
  This victory was significant for all the players and coaches, 
including the Panthers' head coach, Matt Lowe. Back in 2011, Coach Lowe 
was a freshman player on the Powell football team when the Panthers 
lost in a heartbreaker State championship game to Henry County High 
School.
  A decade later, he led his alma mater to a championship that brought 
pride to every student at Powell High School and the community.
  It was not an easy win for the Panthers. The Patriots were 
competitive throughout all four quarters, but the Panthers claimed the 
title when the final whistle sounded.
  Winning this championship was the Panthers' goal all season long, and 
nothing was going to stand in their way. The team kept its eye on the 
prize and gave it their all to capture its first State championship in 
the end.
  The Powell Panthers worked hard and supported each other the entire 
season, and it paid off with a State title.
  Congratulations to all the players, Head Coach Matt Lowe, the team 
support staff, and the entire Powell High School community on this 
great victory.


          Celebrating the Distinguished Career of Albert Harb

  Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to sing the praises of a 
man who I feel is probably the greatest legal mind in America. It is my 
good friend Albert Harb. He has been an attorney in East Tennessee 
since the 1980s, and Albert will retire from practicing law this 
spring. I rise to celebrate his distinguished career.
  Albert earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from the 
University of Tennessee. After working with fellow attorney Joe Yancey 
for several years, Albert went to work for the firm Hodges, Doughty & 
Carson in 1984. He has been employed by the firm ever since.

  Throughout the years, East Tennessee has sought out Albert's legal 
expertise in commercial litigation, construction law, product 
liability, personal injury, domestic litigation, and occasional divorce 
cases. He also provides legal services for business transactions, 
corporate law, and wrongful death suits.
  Organizations such as the Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers 
Consumer Guide, Who's Who American Law, and Mid-South Super Lawyers 
have all recognized Albert for his excellent representation in the 
fields of commercial litigation and personal injury.
  In the Knoxville News Sentinel, a noted politician was quoted as 
saying that he was the best legal mind in America. Additionally, he is 
consistently recognized by Cityview Magazine as one of Knoxville's top 
lawyers for personal injury and construction law.
  Outside of practicing law, Albert is engaged with the Knoxville 
community. When West High School's mock trial team won the Tennessee 
State championship, Albert mentored the students by serving as their 
attorney coach.
  He also held leadership positions with WDVX, the Peninsula Club, and 
the Ramallah Club of Knoxville.
  Albert and his wonderful wife, Carmen, are parents to Ashley, 
Nicholas, and Noel, and they have several grandchildren.
  Albert, thank you for your dedicated legal representation to East 
Tennesseans. I wish you the best in your retirement, and 
congratulations on achieving of counsel status.


       Recognizing Lucy and Ray Hand as Knoxvillians of the Year

  Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Lucy and Ray 
Hand, two of my all-time favorite people and two incredibly amazing 
people who helped me through one of the toughest periods of my life.
  They were recently recognized by the Junior Achievement of East 
Tennessee as Knoxvillians of the Year.
  When I was going through a particularly tough time in my life, I had 
a lot of bad press. On a Tuesday, I always recall, I received a call 
from Lucy Hand. She said: Kickoff for the UT game is this Saturday at 
noon. I expect to see you in the skybox with us.
  I asked if she had seen what the paper was saying about me, and she 
said: Timmy, kickoff is at noon. Don't make me send Raymond after you.
  You know it is serious business, Madam Speaker, when Lucy brings up 
Ray.
  So, I went to the game, and the Hands, of course, were gracious hosts 
to me as they always are. At halftime, I decided to go down to the 
lower section of Neyland Stadium and check out some renovations that 
were recently completed and to see General Neyland's statue.
  When I got there, I heard the most beautiful noise in the world. It 
was the sweetest little 4-year-old girl I think I had ever seen. She 
was wearing some unbelievably cool little red shoes. They were 
sparkling, and she was spinning around. I can see it in my mind's eye 
right now.
  After I saw her, I looked to my left, and it was the most beautiful 
woman that I had ever seen. Her name was Kelly, and she would later 
become my wife, and Isabel would soon become my daughter.
  That day changed my life. Lucy and Ray Hand were there for that 
moment, just like they were there when my parents died, when I married 
Kelly, and when I adopted my Isabel. They were also here in Washington 
in 2019 when I was sworn into Congress.
  I remember when they were standing in line, and the Capitol policeman 
asked me if they were my family because they were escorting family 
through. I looked at him and said, yes, they are my family. Madam 
Speaker, they are my family.
  I thank them for being my friends, and I thank them for bringing 
Kelly and Isabel and me together and creating a wonderful family for 
me.
  I congratulate them on winning Knoxvillians of the Year.

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