[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 25471-25472]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO LT. COLONEL ALBERT B. GUESS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 8, 2005

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a decorated 
war veteran and committed community activist. Lt. Colonel Albert B. 
Guess says his greatest ambition is ``the utilization of his resources, 
knowledge and experiences to promote the well being and welfare of 
others.'' I believe he has achieved this goal in every facet of his 
life.
  Albert B. Guess was born in Santee, South Carolina to farming 
parents. As a young man, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943, serving 
for 3 years until his discharge as a Corporal. Colonel Guess used the 
G.I. Bill to attend South Carolina State University, and joined the 
college's ROTC program. His early life on the farm led him to earn a 
Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, and upon graduation he was 
commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
  After college, Colonel Guess taught agriculture, mathematics and 
science at Barr Street High School in Lancaster, South Carolina. At the 
same time, he served as the Director of the area veterans and adult 
farm program that taught hands-on farming practices and management.

[[Page 25472]]

  Colonel Guess was recalled to the Army in May 1951, where he served 
another 20 years. His military career took him to New Guinea, the 
Phillipine Islands, Japan, Korea, Alaska, and he served 2 tours in 
Vietnam. He earned many awards and decorations for meritorious actions 
and service including the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Colonel 
officially retired from active duty in June 1971 as a Lt. Colonel.
  After leaving the military, Colonel Guess returned to South Carolina 
and his wife's hometown of Marion. There he became very active in the 
community, and that is how I first met him. He served as President of 
the Marion County Branch of the NAACP, and was instrumental in 
negotiating the majority-minority single member districts for the 
Marion City Council and the Marion County Council. He also led numerous 
voter registration and voter participation drives.
  Colonel Guess has also been very active in Marion School District 
One. He has served as a hearing officer helping to represent the 
interest of parents and children in the district. He has been deeply 
involved in ensuring that the schools in the district are top quality, 
and was instrumental in the building of the new Marion High School. 
Colonel Guess served on the steering committee for a bond referendum to 
pay for the construction of a new intermediate school and additions to 
Easterling Primary and Johnakin Middle School.
  He has still found time to serve on the Marion County Economic 
Development Board, the Marion County United Way, and to direct the 
Marion-Dillon County Mental Retardation Program. Colonel Guess is 
currently the Chairman of the Marion County Red Cross.
  He and his wife, the former Reba General are members of St. Phillips 
United Methodist Church The couple has 2 children, Ronald Richardson of 
Marion and Rita James of Charlotte, North Carolina, and four 
grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, on November 21, 2005 I will sponsor a Luncheon in honor 
of Lt. Colonel Albert Guess and I ask you and my colleagues to join me 
in commending this longtime friend and mentor for exceeding his life's 
ambition to serve others. He has served his family, his community, and 
his country with extraordinary dedication, and has been a positive 
impact on countless lives along the way.

                          ____________________