[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6789]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         IN MEMORY OF DAN ROSS

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                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 23, 2008

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, last week, South 
Carolina honored a favorite son and patriot, Daniel Iradell Ross, Jr., 
of Blackville, South Carolina.
  As a World War II veteran of the China-Burma-India Theatre, he 
championed a strong military to promote peace as State Commander of the 
American Legion. He courageously worked as a pioneer in the modem 
Republican Party establishing not only a two-party system in South 
Carolina but also the rise of Republicans from virtually no elected 
positions to majority status across the state.
  In 1970, Mr. Ross chaired the campaign of legendary Greenville 
advertising executive Jim Henderson for Lieutenant Governor. Mr. 
Henderson was only the second Republican to run for the position in the 
20th century.
  In 1974, Mr. Ross co-chaired the campaign of oral surgeon Jim Edwards 
of Mount Pleasant for Governor with Julia Ravenel Dougherty of 
Charleston and William B. ``Rusty'' DePass, Jr., of Columbia as 
manager. Governor Edwards became the first Republican governor since 
1876.
  In 1980, as State Party Chairman, Mr. Ross was the Father of the 
First in the South Republican Presidential Primary. With the leadership 
of Executive Director Wayne Adams, the primary produced lists of new 
Republican recruits which fueled the Reagan Revolution with California 
Governor Ronald Reagan's victory in the primary, victory in the general 
election, and ultimate victory in the Cold War.
  The following is the obituary as published by ``The State'', of 
Columbia, South Carolina on April 17, 2008:

       Blackville.--Daniel Iradell Ross Jr., 84, died Tuesday, 
     April 15, 2008. Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 
     19, 2008, in the Folk Funeral Home Chapel, Williston. 
     Interment will follow in Blackville Cemetery with military 
     honors accorded. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 
     p.m. Friday, April 18 at the funeral home. Memorials may be 
     sent to American Legion Post #91, 5130 Reedy Branch Road, 
     Blackville, SC 29817; Blackville Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 365, 
     Blackville, SC 29817; University Library, Thomas Cooper 
     Library, USC, Columbia, SC 29208; or Ashleigh Place, 4435 
     Ashleigh Road, Blackville, SC 29817.
       Born in Blackville, he was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. 
     Daniel I Ross Sr. His wife, Jeanniene Prater Ross of 
     Johnsonville, preceded him in death. Ross graduated from the 
     University of South Carolina in 1943 with a degree in geology 
     and later achieved a master's degree from the University of 
     Texas. Ross was a proud American veteran, having honorably 
     served in the U.S. Army during WW II. He was devoted to 
     public service, serving in various political capacities in 
     both local and statewide positions for many years including 
     state commander and state chairman of the Republican Party. 
     He was also campaign chairman for former Governor James B. 
     Edwards. Ross is most remembered for his patriotism, his 
     service to others, and his generous spirit.
       Survivors include: Helen Halford Barnes Ross, Dawn Ross 
     Hollingsworth, Lauren Hollingsworth, Jessa Hollingsworth, 
     Michael Hollingsworth; stepchildren: Bettis Richister, 
     Charlene Barrett, and Maree Shay; 9 stepgrandchildren, 22 
     stepgreat-grandchildren, and 6 stepgreat-great-grandchildren.

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