[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 13175-13176]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF EUGENE MORGAN WELSH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2012

  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today 
to honor the late Eugene Morgan Welsh. Gene passed away peacefully on 
July 25, 2012. Staff Sgt. Gene Welsh was a true American hero and 
served his country with pride and dedication.
  Eugene ``Gene'' Morgan Welsh was born May 9, 1925 in McAllister, OK 
to William Morgan Welsh and Tina Pearl Welsh. Gene had two brothers, 
Kenneth and Billy Welsh, who preceded him in death, brother Don and a 
sister Wanda Griffith.
  Proudly at age 18, Gene joined the U.S. Army's 19th Infantry Regiment 
during World War II. Staff Sgt. Welsh's assignment took him to the 
South Pacific. While serving in the Asiatic Pacific, Staff Sgt. Welsh 
was wounded in combat and was eventually awarded the Purple Heart with 
the Oak Leaf Cluster.
   While recovering from his injuries, Gene started writing to a Pen 
Pal, Miss Bettye Cavazos from Sharyland, TX. This was the bright spot 
during his recovery and he often told her in his letters that if he 
ever made it out of the war alive he was going to come back to the U.S. 
and marry her. Upon completion of his military career, he in fact went 
to Texas and asked for her hand in marriage. Flag Day, June 14, 1946, 
Bettye Cavazos became Mrs. Eugene Welsh; that same year they moved to 
Ceres, CA. Gene eventually opened up a business in 1967 that is known 
today as Ceres ProTow and it is still located at the same place 45 
years later. Gene and Bettye had two sons, Mike and Ron. Gene was very 
proud of his sons and was devastated when Ron passed away from a 
pulmonary embolism. Mike continues to run the family business.
   Gene had a great love for his community and was very active with 
many social and charitable as well as civic organizations. In 1987, 
Gene was awarded Rotarian of the Year and in 1988 he was awarded Ceres 
Citizen of the Year and in 2003 he was awarded the Stanislaus County 
Senior Citizen of the Year. Gene also had a love of Square Dancing, and 
taught beginner Square Dance lessons and eventually formed the Ceres 
Twisters where he was the club caller for over 40 years. Gene and 
Bettye were always happy to share their love of Square Dancing with 
others and provided demonstrations to Ceres and Modesto grammar schools 
and convalescent homes and they danced at local, state and national 
festivals as well as on cruise ships.

[[Page 13176]]

   Gene is survived by his wife of 66 years Bettye, son Mike and his 
wife Maureen, daughter-in-law Sherry and 8 grandchildren, 8 great-
grandchildren and one great-great grandson.
   Mr. Speaker, the recognition that I am offering today before the 
House of Representatives for Eugene Morgan Welsh is small compared to 
the contributions and impact he had on the lives of so many. He was a 
leader of our community, role model to our youth and a great American.

                          ____________________