[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13749]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF LOUIS JOSEPH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2006

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Fire 
Chief Louis Joseph of Erwin, North Carolina, who died March 15, 2006. 
In his passing, Erwin lost one of its most outstanding citizens and a 
man who was instrumental in his community, county, and State.
  One of the area's most beloved men, my friend Louis Joseph, died 
Wednesday afternoon at Rex Hospital following a battle with cancer he 
developed from a rare respiratory disease. He was 63. Louis was the 
longtime Erwin fire chief and coproprietor of Joseph's Department Store 
in Erwin. He was diagnosed with Wegener's Granulomatosis in October 
2004. After 45 years as a firefighter and 30 years as chief, Louis's 
health forced him to retire from the department last June.
  Chief Joseph and his brother George Joseph, Jr. were sons of an 
immigrant father from Beirut, Lebanon. George Joseph, Sr. came to North 
Carolina in 1933 to work in his brother's department store in Benson. 
After a try in the ice cream business, Mr. Joseph, Sr. opened a men's 
clothing store in 1948, which led to Joseph's Department Store and the 
first men's clothing store in Dunn, NC. Finally in 1951 Mr. Joseph, Sr. 
moved his department store east to Erwin where Joseph's Department 
Store still stands today. Louis and his brother George Jr. both worked 
at the store after school and eventually took over their father's 
business. Both sons demonstrated a life long commitment to the business 
and to Erwin. Both George Sr. and George Jr. served as Erwin past 
mayors and George Joseph, Jr. continues to manage the department store. 
He continues to be among Erwin's most effective and giving community 
leaders.
  Mr. Speaker, Chief Louis Joseph used every minute of his long and 
productive life to make the world a better place. He was a respected 
and successful businessman, a dedicated public servant, and a great 
North Carolinian. It is fitting that we honor him and his family today.

                          ____________________