[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21]
[House]
[Page 29054]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             THURMAN BARNES

  (Mr. GINGREY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Thurman 
Barnes of LaGrange, Georgia, on receiving his GED at age 96. In fact, 
Mr. Barnes is believed to be the oldest person ever to receive a GED, 
attesting to the fact that an education is important and fulfilling no 
matter what your age.
  Eighty years ago, Mr. Barnes failed a Latin class. As so often 
happens in life, before he could make up his course work, his attention 
was turned to his job, marriage, and family obligations. But throughout 
his life, the thought of that elusive high school diploma stayed with 
him.
  Eight decades later, Mr. Barnes began taking classes at West Georgia 
Technical College. This past Monday, he passed the GED examination with 
flying colors. When asked what subject was easiest for him, Mr. Barnes 
replied, ``Social studies, because I have lived through most everything 
in the last 100 years.''
  Mr. Speaker, it takes a lot of character and tenacity to hold on to 
the dream of graduating high school for 80 years. I want to thank Mr. 
Barnes, his family, West Georgia Technical College, and the Georgia 
Adult Literacy Program for reminding us of the importance of rising to 
the challenges of life, regardless of age.

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