[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15249-15250]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 IN MEMORY OF MAYOR HUGH MARTIN CURRIN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EVA M. CLAYTON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 17, 2000

  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, July 15, 2000, Mayor Hugh 
Martin Currin, of Oxford, North Carolina, left this life. He was laid 
to rest today, after serving a total of 25 years as Mayor of Oxford, 
over a period which spanned 50 years. He spent almost a third of his 
life as Mayor. At age 78, he died at his home and has now been called 
to rest and to reside in a place of total peace.
  Mayor Currin was first elected to that position in 1949, after having 
graduated from Oxford High School, Wake Forest College and Wake Forest 
Law School. This son of a tobacco farmer served as a Naval Officer 
during World War II. Over the years, in addition to Mayor, he served in 
various public positions.

[[Page 15250]]

He was known for his ability to work with all people. The late Floyd 
McKissick, Sr., himself an attorney in Oxford, once said of Mayor 
Currin, that he was a ``man of vision.'' He said the Mayor, ``had the 
nature and capacity to treat a man fairly. He converted Christianity to 
the political arena.'' Indeed, despite his many activities and 
responsibilities, he still found time to teach Sunday School class for 
more than 40 years.
  His years of service were perhaps captured best, in his own words. He 
said, ``The City of Oxford has improved, not because of me or the 
commissioners, but because the people in this Town cared, and still 
do.'' Then, he added, ``That's why Oxford has come so far--the 
people.''
  Mayor Currin was a devoted husband and loving father, whose son, also 
a lawyer, practiced with him in Oxford for many years. I know his wife, 
Doris; his son, Hugh Martin, Jr.; his daughter, Patricia Currin Mangum; 
and his two granddaughters will miss him dearly. All who knew him were 
touched by his humility, strength of character and faith in God. He was 
loved and well respected.
  God's finger has gently touched Mayor Currin, and he now sleeps. I am 
confident that he has left a lasting impression on those who came to 
know him, and the principles that guided him will now serve as 
guideposts for those he leaves behind. He shall surely be missed. I 
feel certain, however, that he would want all of us to rejoice in his 
life and the time he spent on this earth.

                          ____________________