[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 21681]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      IN TRIBUTE TO GEORGE GARRIS

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, this month George Garris, the 
longest serving refuge manager in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
announced he will be retiring and I rise to salute him. There's no 
question in my mind that George has done more to protect the wildlife 
in my State than anyone I know. He is the Teddy Roosevelt of South 
Carolina.
  For years George has been telling me he would retire as soon as he 
finished this one project. Then he would find another project--and the 
same thing, he was going to retire when it was done. This went on and 
on for years and years. It went on because George wanted to leave 
future generations something good. He pushed to save thousands of acres 
of natural habitats in my State. Years from now when we still enjoy 
South Carolina's natural beauty, we can thank George Garris.
  George began his productive career in the Fish and Wildlife Service 
in 1959, and today is the steward of four South Carolina Lowcountry 
refuges that he helped create or expand--the ACE Basin, the Santee and 
Waccamaw Refuges, and Cape Romain. He also successfully saved both the 
endangered red wolf and loggerhead sea turtles.
  We will miss George, and I know all the Members of this body join me 
in thanking him for his esteemed public service and wishing him 
happiness and good health in the years ahead.

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