[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H1240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF BILL CURRENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of Gaston 
County's leading citizens on the occasion of his passing. He is also 
the individual who succeeded me in the State House when I was elected 
to Congress in 2004. I am here to rise in honor of the life and legacy 
of the honorable Bill Current.
  In so many ways, his service in the State House was counterintuitive. 
Dr. Current was already a leading Republican stalwart in Gaston County 
dating back to the 1960s. He had served two terms as the county GOP 
chairman and was instrumental in helping the Republican Party achieve 
dominance in our part of the State.
  In 1976, when Ronald Reagan was running for President, he drove him 
around Gaston County and helped him win that great primary victory that 
year in North Carolina.
  However, politics was only a fraction of Bill Current's prolific and 
incredible life. After his graduation from dental school at the 
University of North Carolina, Bill married the love of his life, Liz, 
and joined the Navy Dental Corps.
  After his service, Bill and Liz returned to Gaston County and began a 
40-year career in dentistry. In fact, dentistry became the family 
business. He was joined by his brother, A.C.; nephew Darrell; and his 
son Will, who still carries on that wonderful tradition today.
  Dr. Current was a leader in the dental community in the State of 
North Carolina, serving on more boards and task forces than I can 
mention. He was also a great civic leader as well: American Red Cross, 
American Heart Association, First Presbyterian Church, and 27 years of 
perfect attendance at Rotary Club. I could go on and on. He did it all.
  It would be fair to assume that in his seventies he would be ready to 
slow down and enjoy his retirement, but that wasn't Bill Current. That 
is instead when he ran for office and served four terms in the State 
House where he led on healthcare issues.
  To the Current family, to Bill and Liz's children and grandchildren 
and extended family, I extend my condolences and gratitude for having 
known such a remarkable man.


               Honoring the Life and Legacy of Leroy Lail

  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of 
Leroy Lail.
  Mr. Speaker, Catawba County and all of North Carolina recently lost a 
legend with the passing of Leroy Lail, a legend in the business 
community and in the civic community of Catawba County in North 
Carolina. I was honored to count Leroy as a mentor during my service in 
Congress.
  Leroy was a native of Catawba County, a Navy officer, and a graduate 
of his beloved University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  It was during his time in the business world that he made his 
greatest impact. In the 1960s, Leroy and his wife, Lynn, opened the 
Hickory Furniture Mart, building an economic engine for the region. 
This, in turn, led to his involvement in the tourism and hospitality 
sectors, growing the family business substantially. Leroy later was a 
driving force behind the creation of the Hickory Metro Convention 
Center.
  Education was also a cause near and dear to Leroy's heart. He spent 
13 years on the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina 
system. In fact, it was through Leroy's persistence that Appalachian 
State University established a campus in Hickory just last year.
  To his beloved wife, Lynn, and the entire Lail family, I extend my 
condolences and gratitude for all of Leroy's contributions.

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