[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12577-12578]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO ALFRED L. WATKINS

  (Mr. ISAKSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand today and pay tribute 
to a man of great vision in my district, Alfred Watkins.
  Twenty years ago, he took over the leadership of a brand-new high 
school in my community. He built a music program from 78 participants 
to the largest music program in public education east of the 
Mississippi River. His children have won the John Philip Sousa Award, 
the Louis Sudler Flag Award, a Grammy for the best music program in a 
public school, twice marched in the Grand Parade at the Tournament of 
Roses, the World's Fair, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

[[Page 12578]]

  But is his legacy the great music or the great music his children 
perform? No. It is countless numbers of young people who, through the 
discipline of participation and through the appreciation of music, are 
changing the lives of other people all over this country.
  Alfred Watkins has been a visionary leader who has been great for our 
community and great for its children. Dr. Theodore Hesburgh once said, 
``Leadership requires that you have a vision, for without a vision, you 
cannot blow an uncertain trumpet.'' It is ironic that Alfred Watkins 
was a trumpeter, and his music are my district's children, who are a 
symphony of perfection in my district and in the lives of countless 
thousands of Americans.

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