[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 16148-16149]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING CHIP SMITH AND BLUE RIDGE LOG CABINS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Gowdy) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GOWDY. Mr. Speaker, Milt and Suzy Smith from Spartanburg, South 
Carolina, are parents to three wonderful sons. Doug Smith is a former 
speaker pro tem of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Stuart 
Smith has a brilliant real estate mind and is a world-class Sunday 
school teacher. But, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in praise of their third 
son, Chip.
  Chip Smith is from Spartanburg, South Carolina, and his company, Blue 
Ridge Log Cabins, employs nearly 100 people in the Fourth Congressional 
District. Blue Ridge Log Cabins is an innovator and a national leader 
in the modular log cabin industry and one of the fastest growing, 
privately held companies in the Nation.
  But, Mr. Speaker, I am not here to talk about that today. I'm here to 
talk about something even more significant and special than that.
  On Sunday, September 25 of this year, ``Extreme Makeover Home 
Edition'' spotlighted the efforts of Blue Ridge Log Cabins in their 
season opening episode on ABC. Over 10 million viewers witnessed the 
donation made by Blue Ridge Log Cabins to Barbara Marshall of 
Fayetteville, North Carolina. Chip Smith decided to build Steps N 
Stages Jubilee House to serve as a shelter for homeless female military 
veterans. Chip's generosity and Barbara Marshall's vision are providing 
an invaluable service to those who have sacrificed their safety for 
ours.
  This 8,000-square-foot facility will provide the most basic necessity 
to those who cannot provide it for themselves, which is shelter. And 
when it comes to our veterans, Mr. Speaker, it

[[Page 16149]]

is imperative that we encourage efforts like this and help those in 
need.
  So, Chip, thank you and your company for putting your time and 
treasure to use to help others.
  Mr. Speaker, times are tough and people are hurting. The greatness of 
the American spirit is that, even in those times, we still reach out to 
others who are in need.
  So I am proud to call Chip Smith a constituent. I'm even prouder to 
call him my friend.

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