[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 7, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2812-S2813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MARY M. HUNT

 Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the long-
time program director for community and economic development Mary M. 
Hunt upon her retirement after more than 20 remarkable years of service 
to the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
  I have often said there is no greater accomplishment than to find 
yourself in a position to give back to the community you love. As a 
Clarksburg native, Mary Hunt has served the people of her community and 
beyond with professionalism, compassion, and respect throughout her 
entire career.
  Mary has never taken any position she has held lightly--and has 
always seen herself primarily as a servant of the people of West 
Virginia. She worked tirelessly for the Charleston mayor's office of 
economic and community development throughout the late `80s and early 
`90s. Mary found herself in the capital city at a pivotal time, when 
major development projects were coming to fruition. It is hard to 
imagine a Charleston today without such iconic spaces as Haddad 
Riverfront Park and Capitol Market, but Mary was there when the ideas 
were conceived and helped bring them to reality.
  Mary made her mark in State government, too. In the early 1990s, 
during Gaston Caperton's administration, she worked as executive 
assistant to the cabinet secretary for the West Virginia Department of 
Commerce for 2 years and then as the chief of administration for the 
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for 5 years, 
through 1997. Truly, her legacy of civic service is one we should all 
instill in ourselves.
  Throughout her time as program director at the Benedum Foundation, 
Mary served as an irreplaceable leader by advancing the foundation's 
existing programs and starting new initiatives to ensure the 
organization's continued viability and positive social impact. Time and 
time again, Mary has made her devotion to helping others abundantly 
clear--not only through her philanthropy projects, but by building new 
partnerships and inviting others into the fold--ultimately bolstering 
her capacity for good.
  Over the last two decades, Mary has helped numerous communities, both 
internally and externally, to help them make their projects possible. 
During her tenure, she has helped distribute grants in almost all 55 of 
West Virginia's counties, supporting nearly 650 grant projects and 
touching roughly 200 organizations.
  With an unrivaled, strong spirit of optimism and innovation, her 
commitment to strengthening our communities is something to admire. Her 
work has undoubtedly advanced the foundation, but more importantly, our 
entire State. I know she has inspired many young leaders throughout her 
illustrious career, and I am confident that they will carry the torch 
to ensure a brighter tomorrow.

[[Page S2813]]

  I will always be grateful to Mary for her passion for serving the 
people of West Virginia. While she is retiring and everyone is sure to 
miss her strong leadership, Mary Hunt's unwavering dedication will 
leave a lasting legacy on the countless lives she has touched. Again, I 
congratulate Mary for her remarkable years of service, and I am honored 
to wish good health and much happiness to Mary and her family in the 
days and years ahead.

                          ____________________