[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 153 (Thursday, September 21, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                        TRIBUTE TO BURKETT WITT

 Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, today I honor the life of a 
truly extraordinary Tennessean.
  If you ask the people of Athens, TN, to describe the life and legacy 
of Burkett Witt, most of them will immediately point to his more than 
three decades of public service to the town where he was born and 
raised. But I like to go back even further to the true beginning of his 
public service. Beginning in 1949, he began connecting to his community 
through food at the helm of Bo and Pete's Southern Soda Shop at 
Tennessee Wesleyan College. Those who knew him--and in some cases, 
worked for him--remember his strong work ethic and credit his 
mentorship as inspiration for their own personal and professional 
growth. The value of that influence, of course, did not go unnoticed. 
In 1971, Witt became the town's first African-American elected as a 
member of the city council. It is worth noting that at the same time 
Witt made history, the people of Athens did, too, and ousted three 
incumbents from the council. It was time for change.
  In 1983, Witt made history again when he became the first African-
American mayor of Athens--and indeed, one of the first African-American 
mayors in Tennessee. After 4 years in the top post, Witt stepped back 
into his role on the council, where he served with dignity for 33 
years. When Tennessee Wesleyan granted Witt an honorary doctorate of 
public service in the spring of 2014, Witt's longtime friend Paul 
Watkins described him as ``a one of a kind in our world,'' and I could 
not agree more.
  On behalf of all Tennesseans, I want to recognize Burkett Witt's 
stunning contributions to the Volunteer State and offer my prayers and 
continued support to the generations of young Tennesseans who will 
benefit from the lessons his legacy will teach them.

                          ____________________