[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22941]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. NEAL E. BOYD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mrs. EMERSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a young 
man who has inspired Americans in my congressional district and across 
our great nation. Mr. Neal E. Boyd is from Sikeston, Missouri, in the 
Eighth Congressional District and, in him, I am lucky to represent one 
of the most talented singers of opera in our country. Mr. Boyd has 
risen to national prominence in recent weeks, but we in Southern 
Missouri have long known about his superior ability as a singer. 
Whether he is singing Puccini or our National Anthem, Mr. Boyd does so 
with such rare emotion and sensitivity that it brings tears to many 
more eyes than my own.
  I am also fortunate to know Mr. Boyd personally. He is a caring 
person who has always put the interests of his family and his community 
ahead of his own. He is shy, but he is not shy with his gift. He is 
modest, but his voice is brazen and strong. He is selfless with his 
art, with his time, and with his heart--and he is unfailingly kind.
  Through hard work and dedication to his craft, Mr. Boyd has shown the 
cliche to be correct: that dreams do come true. I have never once known 
him to complain, to become defeated, or to give in--even when he has 
been forced to put his first love of music on hold. Today, I am very 
glad that Mr. Boyd is able to put his amazing gift first now and for 
the forseeable future. He has earned every bit of the success we are 
celebrating for him in Southern Missouri this month.
  I am very proud to congratulate Mr. Neal E. Boyd on all of his 
successes, and I am humbled to thank him for the contributions he has 
made to Missouri over the years and is still making today. Mr. Boyd is 
most deserving of recognition in the U.S. House of Representatives, and 
I am fortunate to know him well enough to stand here today and declare 
him a true national treasure.

                          ____________________