[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 211 (Friday, December 22, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF MR. IRA DAVID WOOD, III

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. WILEY NICKEL

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 22, 2023

  Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor and celebrate an icon 
of North Carolina's cultural landscape. Mr. Ira David Wood, III, as we 
celebrate the 50th anniversary of his legendary portrayal of Ebenezer 
Scrooge in Ira David Wood, III's ``A Christmas Carol.''
  Mr. Wood's unique and comedic adaptation of this Christmas classic 
has become a beloved holiday tradition for the Raleigh community.
  As the first Eagle Scout in Enfield, North Carolina, and one of the 
first students to graduate from the North Carolina School of Arts. Mr. 
Wood has always been a trailblazer and his passion for the arts has 
been unwavering.
  His visionaly leadership in theater, coupled with his remarkable 
talents as an actor, author, singer, and playwright, has left a 
profound impact on the arts in North Carolina.
  As the founder and Executive Director of Theatre in the Park in 
Raleigh, Mr. Wood has been instrumental in making theater more 
accessible and engaging for our community.
  Mr. Wood wrote and directed the Opening Ceremonies for the U.S. 
Olympic Festival in 1987, served as a guest artist with the North 
Carolina Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra, and has written 
numerous original plays and three books.
  His success in elevating North Carolina's vibrant all scene has 
earned him prestigious recognitions, including two Medal of Arts 
awards, the North Carolina Award in Fine Arts, and The Order of the 
Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor in North Carolina.
  It's with great admiration and gratitude that we celebrate Ira David 
Wood, III's 50 years of artistic excellence, particularly his 
innovative and humorous rendition of ``A Christmas Carol.''
  As we celebrate this milestone, let's applaud Mr. Wood's 
extraordinary contributions not only to the arts but to the heart and 
soul of North Carolina.
  Please join me in congratulating Mr. Wood on this remarkable 
achievement and wishing him continued success.

                          ____________________