[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20457]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO COY J. HALLMARK FOR RECEIVING THE 2004 ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION 
                           HUMANITARIAN AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 2004

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Reverend Coy J. 
Hallmark of Huntsville for receiving the 2004 Arthritis Foundation 
Humanitarian Award. This award is given annually to a person in the 
Huntsville community who has displayed exemplary community leadership.
  As an undergraduate at the University of North Alabama, Reverend 
Hallmark received his first pastoral appointment at a church in 
Lexington, Alabama. After earning a Master of Divinity Degree from 
Emory University, Reverend Hallmark was commissioned as a chaplain in 
the United States Army in 1983. He is currently a Lieutenant Colonel 
with the 279th Signal Battalion in the Alabama National Guard where he 
provides spiritual support and supervision for the battalion chaplains 
in Huntsville, Florence, Mobile and Ft. Lewis, Washington.
  In 1986, after returning from a military exercise in South Korea, 
Reverend Hallmark became an associate pastor at my church, the First 
United Methodist Church of Huntsville, a role he has served ever since. 
During his tenure, the church has seen a large increase in its 
membership and it has been more inclusive and accessible.
  In addition to his pastoral duties, Reverend Hallmark has vigorously 
committed his time volunteering for numerous community organizations 
that promote the welfare of persons with disabilities and provide them 
with access to assistive technology devices and services to increase 
independence in the home, school, and work environments. This issue is 
close to Coy's heart. His daughter, Rachel was diagnosed with cerebral 
palsy in 1982.
  Mr. Speaker, Reverend Hallmark has been a well respected and 
thoughtful member of our church and community for many years. On behalf 
of the people of North Alabama, I congratulate my friend, Coy Hallmark 
on being named the 2004 Arthritis Foundation Humanitarian Award winner.

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