[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19629]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MR. J. GEORGE MITNICK

   Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
good friend, George Mitnick, who I have known for more than a quarter-
century. He passed away on August 6, 2005, at the age of 87, and I 
would like to take this opportunity to honor his life.
  A devoted family man, George was married for 61 years to Willine 
Engel Mitnick. Together, they raised two daughters, Ronne Mitnick Hess 
and Karen Mitnick. He and his wife resided in Jasper, AL, until his 
passing.
  George was born in Hartford, CT, on December 21, 1917, and attended 
college at the University of Connecticut. Upon graduation, he enlisted 
in the military and served in World War II. He was a captain in the 
65th Infantry Division in the European Theatre and received two Bronze 
Stars for his service.
  George Mitnick was very devoted to charitable efforts, making 
generous contributions in money, time and energy. Some of those 
organizations included United Cerebral Palsy and the United States 
Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. In addition, much of his 
philanthropic work was aimed at young people. Both the Mitnick 
Fellowship Fund and the Mitnick Wilderness Boot Camp helped youth in 
Alabama.
  Well known as a business leader, he was a co-founder of Top Dollar 
Stores in the 1950s. The company, which expanded to over 250 stores, 
was acquired by Sav-A-Stop Company, and George served on the company's 
board of directors and on its executive committee. He also served as a 
director of the First National Bank of Jasper and First Commercial 
Bankshares.
  George was very active in civic, professional and political 
organizations. He was committed to making a difference across the State 
of Alabama, dedicating much of his time to community organizations. He 
served as president of the Alabama Retail Association, the Jasper 
Chamber of Commerce and the Jasper Rotary Club. He was instrumental in 
founding the Walker Area Community Foundation and the Walker College 
Civic Concert Association.
  He served on a number of boards including the Northwest Alabama 
Mental Health Center, the Walker County Association of Retarded 
Citizens, Walker Junior College and Walker Regional Medical Center. He 
was also very involved in the political process, playing an integral 
role in Americans for Good Government.
  Active in the Jewish community in Alabama and across the nation, 
George served as president of the Temple Emanu-El in Jasper, AL and the 
Walker County Lodge of B'nai B'rith. In 2003, he was named ``Man of the 
Year'' by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, where he also 
served as a member of the executive board.
  George Mitnick gave of himself so selflessly to the Jasper community 
and the State of Alabama. We are better off for having him a part of 
our State and our country, and I am fortunate to have known him and 
called him a friend. My deepest sympathies are extended to his wife, 
Willine, and his daughters, Karen and Ronne. May this tribute, in a 
small way, honor his life and memory.

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