[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7341-7342]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING DAVE LAWRENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to honor a 
great constituent of my congressional district, Mr. Dave Lawrence of 
South Florida, for his upcoming recognition as the American Red Cross 
2009 Humanitarian of the Year.
  In order to be named Humanitarian of the Year, Mr. Speaker, the 
International Red Cross requires that a person possess these qualities: 
humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, 
and unity. Well, anyone who has spent even just a moment with Dave 
Lawrence can see that he embodies these very qualities. He brings them 
into every activity of his life and every endeavor that he pursues.
  Mr. Lawrence is a graduate of the University of Florida, where his 
many distinguished academic accomplishments earned him the title of 
``Outstanding Journalism Graduate.'' Mr. Lawrence's subsequent career 
in journalism would take him across our country from a position as 
editor of the Charlotte Observer to Detroit, where he served as the 
publisher and executive editor of The Free Press.
  In 1989, to our community's great fortune, he settled down in South 
Florida, where he was the publisher for the Miami Herald for 10 
successful years. As a journalist, Dave Lawrence was honored with the 
First Amendment Award from the Scripps Howard Foundation and the IAPA 
Commentary Award for the elegance of his writing. Under his leadership 
the Miami Herald brought home five Pulitzer Prizes in a decade.
  In 1999 Mr. Lawrence retired from journalism to pursue another 
passion. Leaving his distinguished career as a journalist behind him, 
Dave's altruism would rival even those individuals of the many 
philanthropic organizations that he has led, such as the United Way and 
the University of Florida Foundation. This calling was one for which he 
had already proven himself quite adept with his own five children.
  South Florida's Father's Day Council recognized him as their Father 
of the Year, and the Family Counseling Services honored him; his wife, 
Roberta; his three daughters; and his two sons with the title ``Family 
of the Year.''
  Dave's calling was to prepare as many children as possible for their 
education at the earliest possible opportunity. His crusade gathered 
steam when he led the voters of Miami-Dade County to authorize The 
Children's Trust, which provides an independent source of revenue 
devoted solely to the children of South Florida. His success in this 
campaign earned him two prestigious appointments by Governor Jeb Bush.

[[Page 7342]]

  As the Chair of both the Florida Partnership for Childhood Readiness 
and the Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Protection, Dave Lawrence served as 
the steward of the early education program for Florida's children. From 
these positions he was able to play a crucial role in the fight to 
amend the constitution of our great State of Florida. Now, thanks in 
large part to his efforts, all of the children of our great State of 
Florida have access to quality pre-kindergarten education so that they 
may have a proper foundation for learning that will serve them for the 
rest of their lives.
  Dave Lawrence, I hope that you know how great you have been to our 
children, to our South Florida community, and, indeed, to our Nation.
  The global economy will continue to grow, and yet our world will 
become smaller, and the competition in it will be even more fierce. But 
thanks to the philanthropic efforts of Mr. David Lawrence, the children 
of Florida will have the head start that they need to stay competitive 
and ensure that America remains the greatest democratic country in the 
history of the world.
  Dave, we owe you a debt of gratitude, and no one deserves to be 
honored by the American Red Cross 2009 Humanitarian of the Year award 
more than you.
  Felicidades, mi amigo. Congratulations, my friend.

                          ____________________