[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20977-20978]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   A TRIBUTE TO DR. PHRA E. KERCHEVAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 1999

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. 
Phra E. Kercheval, an outstanding citizen of the United States and a 
lifelong resident of the State of West Virginia, who celebrated his 
101st birthday on May 21, 1999.
  Dr. Kercheval was born on May 21, 1898 in Horton, Randolph County, 
WV, to George H. and Ella Kercheval. He graduated from Tunnelton High 
School-Preston County in 1914, from Potomac State College with a Pre-
Dental degree in 1916, and from Baltimore College of Dental Surgery-
University of Maryland in 1921. He was a member of Sigma Nu, Theta Nu 
Epsilon, and Psi-Omega Alpha Chapter.
  Dr. Kercheval is a veteran of World War I, being a member of the U.S. 
Army Medical Corps, serial number 512556, and received an Honorable 
Discharge in 1918. Dr. Kercheval established his dental practice in 
Tunnelton and Kingwood, WV in 1921 and practiced for 52 years, until 
1973. He founded and established the Kercheval Memorial Clinic with the 
cooperation of Dr. John Lehman in July, 1939. He was instrumental in 
establishing the current Preston Memorial Hospital in Kingwood, WV in 
1952.
  Dr. Kercheval is a member of the American Legion and has held the 
position of Post Commander on five occasions, is Past Commander of the 
State of West Virginia 1944-1945, was on the National Executive 
Committee 1947-1958, served on the National Rehabilitation Committee, 
and was one of the organizers of the Mountaineer Boy's State. He met 
with Senate and House leaders in regard to veterans' benefits during 
his activity with the National Rehabilitation Committee.

[[Page 20978]]

  Dr. Kercheval is also a member of the American Dental Association, 
the West Virginia Dental Association, and the Monongahela Dental 
Association, the IOOF, and is a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner.
  Dr. Kercheval resides with his wife of 59 years in Kingwood, WV and 
enjoys visits with his daughter, Barbara Kercheval, his son Phra E. 
Kercheval, Jr., as well as from his three grandchildren and five great-
grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a privilege to pay tribute to such an 
outstanding citizen as Dr. Phra E. Kercheval, who has been an 
inspiration to so many other Americans, and I am happy to have the 
opportunity to wish him many more happy years of fruitful life in his 
beloved state of West Virginia.

                          ____________________