[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8660]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO MR. ALLIE E. BROOKS, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 2005

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Professor 
Allie. E. Brooks, Jr., Principal of Wilson High School in Florence, 
S.C. Mr. Brooks is retiring after 35 years as a public school educator. 
I join the citizens of Florence and the students of Wilson High School 
in expressing deep appreciation and gratitude to him for a lifetime of 
magnanimous service.
  Mr. Barnes was born in Florence on January 29, 1946 to the parents of 
the late Allie E. Brooks, Sr. and Thelma H. Brooks. He is married to 
Barbara Faye Eaddy Brooks, and they are the proud parents of three 
children: Deanna Fredrica Brooks, Thelma Susanna Eaddy Brooks, and 
Allie Eugene Brooks, III and a daughter-in-law, Janelle Hargrove 
Brooks.
  In 1964, Mr. Brooks began his formative education at Holmes 
Elementary School. He completed Wilson Junior High School, and 
graduated from Wilson High School, where he is currently serving his 
thirty-first year as principal. A graduate of South Carolina State 
University, where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in 
mathematics, Mr. Brooks received a Masters of Education degree in 
Education Administration from the University of South Carolina. In 
addition, he completed an Institute on the Principal and School 
Improvement at Harvard University.
  Mr. Brooks began his professional career as a mathematics teacher at 
Moore Middle School in Florence. That assignment was followed by tenure 
as Assistant Principal at West Florence High School before being named 
Principal of his Alma Mater in 1974.
  Mr. Brooks is a loyal member and deacon of Savannah Grove Baptist 
Church in Effingham, S.C. In addition to his church leadership 
positions, he is an active member of the Board of Directors of the 
Florence Boys and Girls Club and the BB&T Bank Advisory Board. He has 
also been active in numerous civic organizations such as the Greater 
Florence Chamber of Commerce and Florence West Rotary Club, and served 
his country honorably for more than two years as an officer in the U.S. 
Army.
  His awards and commendations are numerous and include: Florence 
Civitans ``Citizen of the Year'' Award, ``Principal of the Year for 
2000 Award'' by the South Carolina Association of Secondary School 
Principals, and South Carolina ``2004-05 Principal of the Year'' by the 
South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in paying 
tribute to Mr. Allie E. Brooks, Jr. for the immeasurable service he has 
rendered to our country and his community through his roles as a well 
loved Principal, highly honored civic leader and incomparable role 
model. I sincerely thank Mr. Brooks for his personal friendship and 
life-long commitment to helping others, and wish him a long, enjoyable 
retirement, and Godspeed.

                          ____________________