[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 20904]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    RETIREMENT OF CHARLES A. GILLIS

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would like to acknowledge the upcoming 
retirement of Mr. Charles A. Gillis, who will retire on October 20, 
2000, as Branch Manager of the Gulfport Branch Office, United States 
Small Business Administration (SBA). I know that I am joined by the 
entire business community of South Mississippi, Charlie's colleagues at 
the SBA, and all those who have had the privilege of interacting with 
him over the years.
  I especially want to thank Charlie for a long career of completely 
devoted service to his community, the State of Mississippi, and this 
Nation. I have known Charlie for many years and have seen firsthand the 
substantial impact his extensive knowledge and business expertise have 
had on countless small businesses and the local economy of Southern 
Mississippi.
  Charles Gillis' ties to the Gulf Coast run deep, as does his record 
of service and achievement. He is a life-long resident of Harrison 
County and a graduate of Gulfport High School. Charlie served in the 
First Cavalry Division in Korea in 1951. He received his Bachelor of 
Arts in Business Administration from the University of Southern 
Mississippi (USM), and later completed additional graduate studies in 
business at the USM-Gulf Park Campus.
  Prior to serving with the SBA, Charlie was a small business 
entrepreneur in his own right, as owner and operator of Gillis 
Furniture in Gulfport. Moreover, Charlie served as a furniture 
manufacturers representative with regular travel assignments covering 
five states. Throughout his private sector career, Charlie honed the 
business skills that later made him such an invaluable public sector 
resource to other small business owners and operators.
  Charlie began his tenure of service with the SBA in July 1982, and 
has faithfully served the agency ever since. His service in the SBA's 
Gulfport Branch Office is especially important to me since the branch 
office was created after Hurricane Camille devastated the Mississippi 
Gulf Coast and its economy in 1969, and during my service as 
Administrative Assistant to then Congressman William Colmer.
  Charlie has been recognized for his continuous dedication to duty and 
his tireless community spirit. Over the years, he has been chosen as 
one of the ``Outstanding Men in America,'' recognized as among the 
``Personalities of the South,'' and selected as ``SBA District Employee 
of the Year.''
  In addition to personal accolades and longstanding official service, 
Charlie generously has given of his time in many ways to improve his 
community. He served as President of the University of Southern 
Mississippi's Alumni Association, as Chairman of the Harrison County 
Election Commission, and as Vice President of Governmental Affairs for 
the Gulfport Area Chamber of Commerce. Moreover, Charlie is an 
associate member of Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity, and serves as a Mason, a 
Shriner, Rotarian, and a charter member of Trinity United Methodist 
Church in Gulfport.
  Charlie's constant professionalism and vast knowledge will be greatly 
missed by the Small Business Administration, the South Mississippi 
business community and officials at every level of government, who have 
had the distinct pleasure and benefit of his insight. Whenever called, 
Charlie always responds in a timely and effective manner with 
eagerness, efficiency and courtesy. Although I know he will miss daily 
interactions with his co-workers and colleagues, I also know that 
Charlie, his wife Rose, and their family, will have many opportunities 
to focus their abundance of energy and exemplary community spirit.




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