[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10455]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING EDGAR MAY

  (Mr. WELCH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a Vermonter who has 
dedicated his life to serving others, one who's made an impact 
nationally and internationally, but most importantly, in his hometown 
of Springfield, Vermont.
  Edgar May has worn many hats in his life, Pulitzer Prize winning 
journalist, a leader in President Johnson's War on Poverty, and a top 
administrator in the Peace Corps under Sargent Shriver.
  I came to know Edgar May when we served together in the Vermont State 
Senate, where we reminded colleagues every day of our obligation to be 
there for average Vermonters. He earned tremendous respect for his 
ability to solve difficult problems, to temper emerging feuds and, most 
importantly, for the profound decency at the core of all his work.
  Edgar has devoted his recent years to providing the people of 
Springfield with something they thought they'd never have, a downtown 
recreation center at the site of an old machine tool plant, a resource 
for all people of all ages and all incomes. The Southern Vermont Health 
and Recreation Center is a symbol of Springfield's quiet but confident 
determination to continue reviving one of Vermont's proudest cities. 
Its creation is a testament to Edgar May's perseverance and his 
devotion to his city, his State and country.

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