[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12288]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE MEMORY OF MR. DENNIS MIDDLETON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2008

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
the memory of an exceptional leader, longtime Scoutmaster, and 
dedicated family man, Mr. Dennis Middleton.
  Dennis owned and operated E. L. Middleton and Son Garage in Loxley, 
Alabama, for the past 40 years. Dennis, along with his wife, Jean, took 
in and raised several foster children. He also served as an assistant 
minister of the First Christian Church of Robertsdale for 30 years. As 
a member of the church, he worked with the Outreach Minister Program 
``Life Connection'' which focused on helping ex-offenders. However, the 
title for which he was most proud was Scoutmaster of Troop 45 in 
Robertsdale.
  For 33 years, Dennis served as a Scoutmaster of Troop 45. He was 
recently asked what Scouting meant to him, and his answer was 
``everything.'' Dennis never expected his life to revolve around 
Scouting. When asked by the previous Scoutmaster to take charge of 
Troop 45, he decided to serve until a replacement could be found. Three 
decades later, he positively influenced countless young lives and was 
once described as, ``the backbone of Scouting'' in his area.
  Dennis was a selfless individual, always eager to help anyone in 
need. For example, a few years ago during a Cub Scout campout, Dennis 
spent an entire day working on a broken water well. The Cub Scouts 
later found out that it was his birthday, and instead of being home 
celebrating with friends and family, he was at the campground making 
sure the Cub Scouts had water. In recognition of his tireless efforts 
on behalf of the Scouts, a Scout lodge at the Silver Creek Campground 
was recently dedicated in his honor. Humbly, Dennis requested the new 
building not be named for him and instead follow the Scout tradition of 
honoring American Indian cultures. Today, the lodge is named Toknaawa 
Pahni, meaning ``Silver Creek'' in Muscogee, the native tribal group.
  The great contributions made by Dennis as Scoutmaster did not go 
unnoticed. He was honored with several Scout awards, such as, the 
Silver Beaver and the Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor. He also received 
the Who's Who Gulf Coast Award in 1989. Dennis was a member of the 
Order of the Arrow WOA Cholena Lodge No. 322. He attended the Wood 
Badge SR 550 and was a member of the respectable ``Bob White'' patrol.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a 
dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. 
Dennis Middleton will be deeply missed by his family--his wife of 43 
years, Jean Middleton; his daughters, Sabrina Middleton and Beverly 
Middleton; his son, Dennis Wayne Middleton; his foster son, Allen 
Kittrell; his sister, Mary Sue Archer and her husband David; his 
brother, Charles David Middleton and his wife Lillie; his 13 
grandchildren--as well as the countless friends and fellow Scouts he 
leaves behind.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult 
time.

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