[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9078]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO TRI-COUNTY HEAD START DIRECTOR ORION FLOWERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 11, 2004

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Tri-County 
Head Start Director Orion Flowers, who is approaching the end of a long 
and distinguished career of public service. A dedicated and committed 
individual, Orion has served the communities and children of southwest 
Michigan for over 30 years. Through his leadership as Director, Orion 
helped the program grow from serving 100 to 1026 children.
  Since becoming Head Start Director in 1970, Orion devotedly and 
selflessly committed himself to the betterment of countless families. 
Orion is widely known for his extensive charity and dedication to local 
individuals and the community as a whole. He spent a career devoted to 
improving the lives of the citizens of southwest Michigan, and the area 
is forever in his debt. There is no question that Orion's dedication 
and contributions to the Tri-County will be missed.
  One example of Orion's diligent work occurred in the early 1970's, 
when he initiated a program whereby children would come to a Mobile 
Unit for classes. In conjunction with that, a Home Based program began 
where a Home Visitor would go into a family's home to assist parents in 
teaching their children an array of subjects and concerns. Remarkably 
the Mobile Unit and Home Based concepts are still in use today.
  Many words come to mind as one reflects upon Orion Flower's public 
service to our community. He is selfless, generous, giving, caring, 
humble . . . the list goes on. Our community is in debt to Orion 
Flowers for his continued public service since 1970. I wish him and his 
family all the best in retirement. Orion's contributions to our 
community have been many, and we are all better off because of his 
service. He will be truly missed by the folks in southwest Michigan.

                          ____________________