[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING MARSHALL RAUCH'S 100TH BIRTHDAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of the 100th 
birthday of one of North Carolina's greatest statesmen, Marshall Rauch.
  Growing up in Gaston County, Marshall Rauch was my State senator. He 
served 24 years in the State senate, representing Gaston, Cleveland, 
Lincoln, and Rutherford Counties, all parts of my congressional 
district.
  Prior to that, he was on the Gastonia City Council for 14 years. He 
was one of the most powerful elected officials in the State, serving as 
chair of the North Carolina Senate Finance Committee, and that was 
before our Governor had a veto. His service was also groundbreaking. 
Senator Rauch was one of the first Jewish elected officials in North 
Carolina.
  But let's back up to where it all started. Marshall Rauch came south 
from his native New York City to play basketball at Duke University in 
the 1940s. That was long before anyone had heard of Coach K. In fact, 
he played for Coach Eddie Cameron in the first year that Duke Indoor 
Stadium was open, long before that legendary venue would be renamed for 
Coach Cameron.
  Marshall's time at Duke was cut short by World War II, where he 
served bravely. However, he will always have Duke to thank for meeting 
his wife of 64 years, Jeanne.
  After the war, they settled in Jeanne's native Gaston County, where 
Marshall started Rauch Industries, thus beginning his prolific business 
and political career. Rauch Industries in Gastonia grew into a leading 
manufacturer. I knew it well because I mowed the grass around his 
facility for a number of years.
  Rauch Industries provided jobs to thousands and stood as a pillar of 
the civic and charitable community in Gaston County, and we are 
grateful for it.
  It was not lost on anyone that this business owned by a leading 
Jewish citizen was one of the world's leading manufacturers of what, 
you may ask? Christmas ornaments.
  Senator Rauch was recently quoted as saying: ``In Judaism, there are 
eight degrees of charity, and the highest and best charity you can do 
is to help someone in a manner that they don't need help anymore.''
  Senator, you have done that in many ways for lots of people for a 
number of years, and we are all the better for it.


                   Remembering Walter Stine Isenhower

  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, few people these days associate 
politicians with humility, but Catawba County in my district benefited 
from the service of one such person for many decades. Walter Stine 
Isenhower, known as Mr. Catawba County, passed away in January at the 
age of 95, and I rise today to honor his legacy and service to our 
area.
  Stine was a lifelong Republican who served as chairman of the Catawba 
County Board of Commissioners and as a member of the North Carolina 
House of Representatives.
  His impact is still felt in the community from many issues that he 
championed, including support for the local community college and the 
county hospital.
  Stine was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a volunteer fireman, and he 
held various leadership roles with his beloved church, Concordia 
Lutheran.
  His favorite saying was that a day out of Catawba County is a day 
wasted. We thank Stine for devoting his life to making our lives 
better.

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