[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 79 (Tuesday, May 7, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E460-E461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF GEORGE ``LUM'' ATKINSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ANNA PAULINA LUNA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 7, 2024

  Mrs. LUNA. Mr Speaker, I rise today to honor George ``Lum'' Atkinson, 
a veteran and dedicated community leader from Gulfport, Florida.
  George was born on June 23, 1926, in Birmingham, Alabama, right 
before the Great Depression. As Tom Brokaw once said, ``the greatest 
generation that ever lived.'' The oldest of 4 boys, he had only one 
pair of shoes. They were for school, Church, and any other fancy 
occasion. This meant basketball in the school gym was played barefoot 
or in socks. When he was nine years old, he was hit in the head with a 
baseball bat and had to stay in bed for six months. He would spend his 
days in bed shooting bbs into a metal tin with wax. Every evening, his 
father would melt the wax, pick out the bbs, and hang it back up in the 
morning.
  In the mid-1940s, Lum and his family had to leave the cold of Alabama 
for the warmth of Arizona or Florida due to his brother's asthma. They 
had been to Florida before to visit family, so they landed in Treasure 
Island and began their lives on the Gulf Coast. He and his family 
became a part of the community and became the first six members of 
Church by the Sea in Madeira Beach, Florida. Lum was a student in high 
school when World War II began. As a senior at St. Petersburg High 
School, Lum decided to drop out of school and enlist in the Marines to 
defend our country. Since he was only 17, his parents had to give their 
permission. His mother was against his early enlistment, wanting him to 
get his diploma before enlisting. She made him promise that he would 
get his diploma when he returned after the war was over. So, after the 
war, he returned to St. Petersburg High School to get his degree. When 
you make a promise to Momma, you keep it.
  Lum was an excellent marksman during World War II. He went to Hawaii 
in the 2nd Division, then transferred to the 6th Division to 
participate in the Battle of Okinawa. On April 1, 1945, the invasion of 
Okinawa began. Lum was a member of the main landing force in northern 
Okinawa. By April 20th, the northern portion of the island was under 
the control of the 6th Division. With the northern portion secured, 
Lum's unit took on new duties critical to

[[Page E461]]

the war effort. Lum assisted in maintaining the airstrip during the 
day, guarding the airstrip from snipers and sabotage while in a foxhole 
at night, and getting supplies to the southern portion of the island 
where the Japanese had a stronghold.
  When the war ended, Lum's unit was sent to China to guard Japanese 
prisoners and help the Chinese repair their country. For their service 
in the Battle of Okinawa, the 6th Marine Division was awarded the 
Presidential Unit Citation, the highest division award possible.
  Corporal George ``Lum'' Atkinson was awarded the World War II Combat 
Action Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, and the Good Conduct 
Medal.
  When he returned from World War II, he met and married the love of 
his life, Mary. They settled down in the small town of Gulfport, 
Florida, where they raised three girls. During this time, he joined the 
Marine Corps Reserve. He was called up for the Korean War and was 
stationed at Camp Lejeune. Always willing to serve his country and 
community, Lum worked for 38 years at Florida Power as a lineman, 
foreman, and switchman. While at Florida Power, he played on the 
company softball team. Knowing his love for the game, one of his 
coworkers asked him to help with Gulfport Little League around 1957. He 
started coaching and remained active on and off for almost 50 years, 
serving as President, Secretary, Umpire, Scorekeeper, Manager, Coach, 
and Groundskeeper. He is still in touch with many of his players. In 
fact, at his 95th birthday party, about 30 of his former ballplayers 
came to celebrate him.
  In 2002, the City of Gulfport renovated the baseball fields at 
Tomlinson Park, and because of his dedication and loyalty, they named 
the new park ``Lum Atkinson Ball Fields.'' Caring about the City of 
Gulfport, Lum was also a member of the Gulfport Volunteer Fire 
Department. He retired with the rank of lieutenant when the city 
changed to a Fire Department with full-time firefighters. When his wife 
Mary and her sister, Catherine Hickman, founded the Gulfport Community 
Players and the Gulfport Historical Society, Lum became a member of 
both organizations. Just as he was a dedicated member of the Gulfport 
Little League, Lum was an active supporter and volunteer of those two 
organizations Gulfport Community Players, Gulfport Historical Society, 
and the Gulfport Little League continue to flourish today, contributing 
to the vibrant community of Gulfport, thanks in no small measure to the 
dedication of Lum Atkinson.
  Please join me in appreciation for Lum Atkinson and all the men like 
him, who selflessly defended our freedoms abroad and then came home to 
build strong families and strong communities. I thank Lum. May God 
Bless him and the United States of America.

                          ____________________