[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 53 (Thursday, March 23, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING ROBERT J. ``RJ'' DUKE SHORT ON HIS 89TH BIRTHDAY

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                           HON. RALPH NORMAN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2023

  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Robert J. Duke 
Short, U.S. Senate Official, on the occasion of his 89th birthday and 
to wish him a joyous birthday celebration.
  Mr. RJ Short was born in Moultrie, Georgia on March 31, 1934. He 
graduated from North Georgia College in 1956, with a Bachelor of 
Science degree. Upon graduating from college, he worked as an 
industrial engineer before going back to school. He then attended 
Palmer College, in Port Orange, Florida afterward, to become a 
chiropractor. Mr. Short then joined the U.S. Army where he courageously 
served his country from 1957 to 1961.
  After spending five years in the Army serving our great country, he 
joined the Department of Treasury for 2 years before becoming a Senior 
investigator for the Senate subcommittee on Internal Security.
  Mr. Short quickly rose through the ranks to become the Republican 
staff director and Chief investigator for the Senate Committee on the 
Judiciary, in which he served for 12 years.
  In 1989, Mr. Short served 15 years as Chief of Staff to Senator Strom 
Thurmond, a Republican from South Carolina. He was also a Counselor to 
the Chief Judge of the United States of America Military Court Appeals.
  Duke and his wife, Denise, happily married on May 23, 1992. Mr. Short 
has risen above many personal challenges and has been a great public 
servant for his country. He is the epidemy of the American success 
story. Duke has also been decorated with many awards and achievements 
for his hard work throughout the years. Mr. Short has been listed as a 
noteworthy and honorable U.S. Senate official by Marquis Who's Who. He 
is a recipient of the United Service Organizations Appreciation award, 
Employees Support of Guard and Reserve Appreciation award, named one of 
the fifty most Powerful Staffers in Congress by Roll Call, honorary 
judge of The United States of America Claims Court, and Palmer Academy 
Chiropractic fellow. In 2002, Governor James Hodge gave Mr. Short the 
Order of the Palmetto, the state of South Carolina's highest honor. 
Robert J. Duke Short has set the gold standard for his years of 
dedicated service and commitment which will long be remembered and for 
that we all join in saying thank you, and wish him a happy birthday.

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