[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9702-9703]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF THE MUSCOGEE RETIRED EDUCATORS ASSOCIATON

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2012

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the 
members and supporters of the Muscogee Retired Educators Association 
(MREA) as they commemorate its 50th anniversary this year. A 
celebration luncheon will be held on Friday, June 22, 2012 at 11:30 
a.m. at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center in Columbus, Georgia.
  MREA was established as the Muscogee Retired Teachers Association 
(MRTA) in 1962 when Mr. Boyd B. Littlejohn and a small group of other 
retired Muscogee teachers decided to organize themselves in order to 
better attend to the needs and concerns of retired teachers in the 
area. Mr. Littlejohn, a retired principal who served St. Elmo, 
Clubview, and Mcllhenney schools, became the first president before 
going on to serve as president of GRTA from 1965-1967.
  In its early existence, members of MRTA would meet in their homes or 
in churches. Ms. Ruth Plumb and Mrs. Rex Lavender served as presidents 
until MRTA became inactive for a short period. In 1972, J. Zeb Morris, 
retired principal of Waverly Terrace and jazz pianist, became 
president. After this, MRTA began to grow in membership and was able to 
improve its service to retired teachers.
  Throughout the years, the association has been led by distinguished 
retired educators such as Lucile David, Lyda Hanna, Nathan Hunter, 
Brice Carson, Jack Shepard, Laura Haygood, L.B. Hickson, Sumter 
Blackmon, John Little, O'Neal Hendricks, Kathryn Hunt, Esto Smith, 
Anita B. Walters, Dr. Jeanette Marshal and its current president, Diane 
Boss, among others.
  Mr. Nathan Hunter also served as GRTA President from 1979-1980 and 
Mrs. Lucile Hunter, his widow and an MRTA member, presented his GRTA 
gavel to the MREA. The gavel is a treasured keepsake and is passed on 
to each succeeding MREA president.
  In 1998, the GRTA changed its name to the Georgia Retired Educators 
Association to include all those who work in the field of education and 
are under the Teacher Retirement System of Georgia. MRTA followed suit, 
changing its name to the Muscogee Retired Educators Association (MREA), 
as it is called today.
  In addition to having served as teachers, mentors, and role models 
throughout their career, members of MREA continue to serve the 
community in retirement by volunteering their time to help out at 
schools, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, museums, libraries, health 
screening venues and other places. A number of members also volunteered 
at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Columbus for fast pitch baseball.
  In past years, MREA has consistently been presented with competitive 
Membership awards from GREA. Also, MREA strives to help active teachers 
by awarding scholarships to those seeking graduate degrees.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in applauding the 
exceptional efforts of the Muscogee Retired Educators Association for 
all they have done and will continue to do to address the needs of our 
retired educators. Not only did MREA members provide a great service 
during their careers teaching our young people, but they have continued 
that legacy of service in the community in retirement and for that, I 
thank each and every one of them.

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