[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10582-10583]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            RICKY DOBBS DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House 
and the good people of America, I rise on a very special occasion, to 
pay tribute and to recognize the outstanding and excellent work of one 
of my constituents in Douglasville, Georgia, in Douglas County. This is 
an extraordinary story. This young individual, Mr. Ricky Dobbs, who is 
a native of Douglasville, Georgia, and a graduate of Douglas County 
High School has gone on to excellence and greatness in an extraordinary 
career of academic achievement as well as athletic achievement.
  During his years as a Douglas County High School student, he 
portrayed such a commendable attribute that his teachers affectionately 
referred to him as ``the Mayor.'' He was the recipient of the Faculty 
Cup at his commencement ceremony in 2006. Ricky Dobbs, who has 
demonstrated outstanding achievement in academics, was accepted into 
the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. And in sports, he is 
leading Navy football as its quarterback. And what a quarterback he has 
become.
  In the 2008 Navy football season, Ricky Dobbs rushed for 498 yards 
and eight touchdowns, and Navy was honored at the White House in April 
2009 for winning a sixth straight Commander in Chief's Trophy by 
President Barack Obama. In his role as quarterback for the Navy 
Midshipmen in 2009, Ricky Dobbs broke the single season college record 
for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Yes, indeed, Ricky 
Dobbs finished with the NCAA record of 27 single-season rushing 
touchdowns and was named the game's most valuable player in the 2009 
Texas Bowl.
  Mr. Speaker and Members of Congress, Ricky has thrown just four 
interceptions in his entire career as quarterback for the Navy, or 
0.033 percent, the lowest interception percentage in Naval football 
history. Ricky Dobbs has scored four or more rushing touchdowns on four 
different occasions. In other words, four touchdowns in four different 
games, including three times

[[Page 10583]]

in three games this past year. No other Navy player has more than one 
career four rushing touchdown day, and that includes the legendary 
Roger Staubach.
  Ricky Dobbs comes from a humble beginning. He has a family, a loving 
family, and when you give credit and you recognize the achievements of 
a young man or a young lady, you certainly have to recognize the 
achievements of those parents. Barbara Cobb and Clarence Dobbs have 
done a remarkable job of rearing this young man. But we can't stop 
there, for when you recognize the achievement of Ricky Dobbs of 
Douglasville and Douglas County, you have got to recognize that entire 
community that has put its arms around and reared and nurtured this 
outstanding young man to soar in academics as well as perform 
excellently in record-shattering circumstances on the football field 
for the prestigious Navy Academy.
  Mr. Speaker, when you look at this, one word comes to mind, and that 
word is ``excellence.'' When that word was put to the great Greek 
philosopher Aristotle, when Aristotle was asked, What does it take to 
be an excellent person, Aristotle said, In order to be an excellent 
person, you must first of all know thyself. Well, Ricky Dobbs knows who 
he is, and that is, he is a child of God.
  The question was later put to the great emperor and general, Marcus 
Aurelius of Rome: Marcus Aurelius, what does it take to be an excellent 
person? Marcus Aurelius replied, In order to be an excellent person, 
you must first of all discipline yourself.
  What discipline it took to achieve academically at Douglas County 
High School and then to move up to the prestigious Navy Academy and set 
these astounding, record-shattering records on the football field.
  And then, finally, the question was put to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, 
when he was asked, What does it take to be a great person, an excellent 
person? Jesus said, Sacrifice yourself.
  As a military person, he is doing that for his country. Let's give 
this tribute to this outstanding young man and make this day, ladies 
and gentlemen, Ricky Dobbs Day in this United States of America.

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