[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4929]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            WELCOMING THE REVEREND CLYDE PICKNEY THOMAS, JR.

  (Mr. SPRATT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SPRATT. Madam Speaker, the opening prayer was given by the 
Reverend Clyde Pickney Thomas, Jr. Reverend Thomas has served in the 
ministry of the Southern Baptist Church since 1974 and is now the 
pastor of Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church in Gaffney, South Carolina, a 
pulpit that he has filled with distinction since 1979.
  Reverend Thomas is not only a prominent preacher of the gospel, but a 
pastor who has developed courses of study for adults, youth, and 
children, conducted an extensive sports ministry, and taken at least 10 
mission trips to places as far away as the Amazon. He is married to 
Joanne Cash Thomas, and they have two sons, Clyde Preston Thomas and 
James Grady Thomas.
  I have had the privilege of attending Sunday services at Cherokee 
Avenue and, afterwards, having lunch in the fellowship hall. I can 
attest to the fact that the preaching and the cooking were both first 
rate.
  I want to thank Reverend Thomas and thank also the Speaker and Father 
Coughlin for allowing Reverend Thomas to open today's session with 
prayer. Thank you very much.

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