[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 46 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REMEMBERING GEORGE E. ``COTTON'' FLETCHER

 Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise to honor the life 
of George E. ``Cotton'' Fletcher. Cotton Fletcher was born in St. 
Petersburg, FL, and shortly after moved to Newberry, FL, where he led 
family enterprises and created jobs for hard-working Floridians, 
including a 2,000-acre farm, the Newberry Fletcher Farm Equipment 
dealership, a cattle ranch, and a family-run sawmill in west 
Gainesville. Later he turned to property development as the president 
and CEO of the Fletcher Family of Companies.
  Mr. Fletcher also dedicated his life to service. He served in the 
U.S. Navy and the Air Force, retiring as a major from the Air Force 
Reserves. His service continued beyond the military, serving 53 years 
on the Alachua General Hospital Board, which later became Santa Fe 
Healthcare and included the founding of Haven Hospice in Gainesville, 
FL. He also served on the Florida Lottery Commission, the Gainesville 
Area Chamber of Commerce, and as a Paul Harris Fellow Rotary Member.
  He is survived by his children Cheryl Hartley (Robert), Cindy 
Thompson, Deborah Diamond, and Blake Fletcher (Ashley); his sister-in-
law Mary Fletcher, son-in-law Lester Thompson; 12 grandchildren 
Matthew, Bryce, Andrew, Ross, Myles, Chelsea, Ryan, Bella, Reagan, 
Landon, Greyson, Brady; and 6 great-grandchildren Brendan, Parker, 
Catherine, Emory, Claire, Ellie.

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