[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17038]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO GEORGE M. VAN TASSEL

 Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to George M. 
Van Tassel, who passed away on Monday, June 18, 2007. For 13 years, 
George served as mayor of my hometown, Tuscaloosa, AL. He was a 
personal friend of mine and along with the entire town of Tuscaloosa, I 
mourn his passing.
  In the 1930s George moved south from New York to attend the 
University of Alabama School of Law. There, he met a fellow student, 
Juarine Berrey, with whom he quickly fell in love. They married in 
1934. Several years after his gradation in 1939, George was drafted by 
the U.S. Army to serve in the European theater during World War II. On 
D-Day, George was among the soldiers who landed on the beach at 
Normandy, France.
  Upon returning to the States, George began his law practice. In 1956, 
he was elected to serve as mayor of Tuscaloosa, filling the unexpired 
term of mayor Hal McCall. Although George oversaw many changes that 
took place in Tuscaloosa during his three terms as mayor, perhaps his 
most notable achievement was his initiative to dam the North River and 
create a 5,885-acre water supply reservoir we call Lake Tuscaloosa.
  In 1969, George decided not to run for reelection. An avid hunter and 
fisherman, he wanted more time to enjoy his hobbies. He returned to the 
law, managing a successful practice until he retired at age 75.
  George is loved and will be missed by his daughter, Linda Ayers of 
Tuscaloosa, and his son, George M. Van Tassel, Jr., of Birmingham. He 
was an inspiration to many and will be remembered for his dedication 
and many contributions to the city of Tuscaloosa. I ask this entire 
Senate to join me in recognizing and honoring the life of George M. Van 
Tassel.

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