[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9714-9715]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF LEADERSHIP OSCEOLA COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 9, 2014

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Leadership 
Osceola County as they celebrate their 25th anniversary.
  Whereas, the mission of Community Vision is to bring people and 
resources together to achieve the vision of Osceola County as a 
progressive community that provides the highest quality of life to 
residents and visitors;
  Whereas, Community Vision has worked very hard since its inception to 
succeed in its mission and to identify the role of individuals and 
organizations in achieving its vision;
  Whereas, Community Vision has focused on key issues through positive 
projects, programs, and collaborative activities in order to bring the 
public and leadership together to move together toward shared community 
goals and objectives;
  Whereas, Leadership Osceola County is an unsurpassed Community Vision 
leadership development program that began in 1989 and is now 
celebrating its 25th anniversary with more than 700 leaders graduating 
from the program after learning of community challenges first-hand and 
gaining the tools necessary to facilitate positive change within our 
community; and
  Whereas, today, Community Vision remains focused on a shared vision 
for a better and brighter Osceola County tomorrow by continuing to 
prepare, inspire, and support leadership for the good of the public;
  Whereas, the United States Representative of Florida's Ninth 
Congressional District is honoring, recognizing and congratulating 
Leadership Osceola County on its 25th Anniversary.
  Now, therefore, I, Alan Grayson, U.S. Representative for Florida's 
Ninth Congressional District, congratulate Leadership Osceola County on 
its 25th Anniversary and hereby proclaim the week of June 8, 2014 as 
Leadership Osceola County Week in the Ninth Congressional District of 
Florida.


     Recognizing the Contributions of Rose ``Roxy'' Marie Santiago

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Rose Marie 
Santiago. Originally from Old San Juan in Puerto Rico, Rose--or Roxy as 
she is known to her friends--has lived in Orlando for over 30 years. 
During this time she has been an active member of the Thornton Park 
community. She also recently started the popular dog sitting business, 
``Sit Stay Walk By Roxy,'' in Orlando.
  From 2006 to 2009 Roxy was a Tri-Chair Federal Club Steering 
Committee member for Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Now she serves on the 
HRC's Social Media Steering Committee. When she is not campaigning and 
fundraising for social causes, Roxy repairs personal computers and is a 
keen practitioner of yoga. She also pours wine for Barefoot Wine's 
local events.
  Earlier in her career, Roxy was employed by such prestigious 
companies as Disney, where she worked for ten years. Roxy undertook 
many high-profile responsibilities through her position as a Guest 
Relations Manager at Disney, and she even acted as a personal tour 
guide for more than one U.S. President.
  Roxy was a partner with Phish Phest Entertainment for ten years. 
Throughout this time she was instrumental in the organization of a 
series of events which helped to raise over $150,000 for various 
charities; the beneficiaries of these funds include Hope and Help 
Center of Central Florida, the HRC, and Libby's Legacy Breast Cancer 
Foundation. Phish Phest Entertainment also participated in various 
other charitable events including the Orlando Aids Walk, Smart-Ride, 
Come out with Pride, Headdress Ball, GayDays, Scooters 4 Hooters, and 
Score for Kore.
  Roxy Santiago is extremely proud of what she has achieved both 
professionally and personally and continues to dedicate herself to 
these causes.
  I am happy to honor Rose ``Roxy'' Marie Santiago, during LGBT Pride 
Month, for her contributions to the Central Florida community.


              Recognizing the Contributions of Vicki Nantz

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Vicki Nantz. 
Vicki graduated from Florida State University and began a career in 
broadcast television. She has produced and directed hundreds of hours 
of programing through her work for corporate-owned media companies and 
on projects with renowned talent like Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods and 
Cheryl Ladd. Although her projects were often rewarding and exciting, 
Vicki found most to be of little personal significance. Whether it was 
a

[[Page 9715]]

talk show, newscast or documentary, the subject matter never seemed to 
connect with her life.
  In 2007, when a young man named Ryan Skipper was murdered in Central 
Florida simply because he was gay, Vicki felt that it was no longer 
acceptable to remain silent. She and her partner, Mary Meeks, began to 
speak publicly about anti-gay hatred. They also began making 
documentaries about LGBT people in order to put real faces on the 
issues of hate crimes, adoption, immigration and marriage. Their first 
documentary was about Ryan Skipper, how he was marginalized and 
brutalized by his community, how he was failed by his local, state and 
national governments, and how our anti-gay culture was complicit in his 
death. The documentary helped generate attention which led to national 
media coverage when Ryan's killers were tried, convicted and sentenced 
to life in prison. Acting as the Skipper family's spokesperson during 
the trial, Vicki was featured in numerous national television 
interviews which helped raise awareness about anti-gay hate crimes. 
After watching the documentary, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz 
referenced Ryan's murder on the floor of the U.S. House of 
Representatives. In 2009 she invited Ryan's family to attend the White 
House signing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes 
Prevention Act.
  Another of Vicki's documentaries highlighted Florida's anti-gay 
adoption ban set out in a 33- year-old law which was ruled 
unconstitutional in 2010. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) 
utilized the documentary statewide to educate Floridians about the 
discriminatory law.
  As a married couple, Vicki and Mary have continued to produce 
documentaries on social justice issues, each of which has screened at 
multiple film festivals and college campuses across the country. Their 
films have raised awareness about critical issues and helped inspire a 
new generation of activists. Vicki and Mary have continued to speak out 
in county chambers and legislative committee rooms, to advocate for 
long-overdue equality, and to try to change the culture of hatred so 
that LGBT people can live authentic lives without the fear of violence 
and intolerance. They do this on behalf of Ryan Skipper and his family.
  I am happy to honor Vicki Nantz, during LGBT Pride Month, for her 
inspiring work to raise awareness about LGBT issues in Central Florida 
and around the country.


            Remembering the Life of William Clay Harris, Jr.

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding 
member of the Central Florida community, William Clay Harris, Jr., who 
passed away on June 2, 2014 at the age of 67. He went peacefully in his 
home in Gotha, Florida.
  Born in Hobart, Oklahoma on June 24, 1946, to the late William Clay 
Harris, Sr. and Alice Annabel Harris, William or ``Bill'' was the 
oldest of their four children. He is survived by his three siblings, 
James Leonard Harris, Joseph Robert Harris, and Rebecca Ann Kellogg. 
Bill had many fond memories of his early childhood, including the 
adventures of his beloved family dog, Casey. He developed a love of 
music in high school where learned to play the trumpet which he 
continued to play in college. He graduated from Hobart High in 1964 and 
began his studies at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. After two 
years, he enlisted in the United States Army where he was stationed in 
South Korea as part of the Army Security Agency. He served honorably in 
the U.S. Army for four years, after which his love of Korean culture 
compelled him to remain in Korea as an English teacher. He embarked on 
a solo backpacking trip across the country during which he mastered the 
Korean language and befriended many locals. He was later recruited by 
the Country's Ministry of Communications to teach English to a group of 
Korean telephone operators in Seoul. While in Seoul, he met and fell in 
love with his future wife of 41 years, Sang Nan Harris, who survives 
him. Bill would often fondly recount the story of travelling to the 
city of Kimhe to meet Sang's father, the late Cho Bong Young. He was 
humbled by his future father-in-law's hospitality and genuine kindness 
during their introduction.
  Bill and Sang returned to Oklahoma where they were married at the 
First Baptist Church of Hobart on May 18, 1973. Bill continued his 
studies at Southwestern Oklahoma State University as part of the United 
States G.I. Bill. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Economics 
and a Master's in Education, while Sang earned a degree from the same 
institution in Accounting. The newlyweds also started growing their 
family which includes one daughter and two sons who survive Bill: Julie 
Suzanne Wade, Matthew Clay Harris, and Kelly Cho Harris.
  Bill Harris began a long and successful career as a high school 
teacher, focusing on the subjects of Economics, History and English as 
a Second Language. Bill had a passion for education and helping poor 
and at-risk students, which led him to teach exclusively in underserved 
schools during his career. In 1983, the family moved from Oklahoma to 
Houston, Texas where Bill positively impacted the lives of countless 
students at Stephen F. Austin High School.
  His three children remember Bill as, above all, a devoted father. He 
never missed a Little League game, swim meet, band concert, Boy Scout 
camping trip or dance recital and provided unending encouragement and 
support for his children's endeavors. As a father, he also stressed the 
importance of education and was proud to see his children succeed to 
become two attorneys and a medical doctor. He always put his family 
first.
  Bill and his family moved from Houston to Orlando, Florida in 1995 in 
order to pursue a job opportunity for his wife, Sang, as she started 
her own accounting business. He taught at Evans High School, but later 
retired in 1998 in order to assist his wife in her growing business. He 
affectionately described his job title as a ``gopher'' for Sang, 
referring to the wide variety and high volume of tasks that the 
business demanded. Bill and Sang saw their three children start 
careers, get married and grow families of their own. Bill seamlessly 
transitioned from the role of father to grandfather and was blessed by 
the time he was able to spend with his six grandchildren. They include 
Harrison Campbell Wade, McKinley Annabel Wade, Emerson Olivia Wade, 
Thatcher Holden Wade, William Colton Harris, and Anderson Leigh Harris. 
He was very proud of his precious grandchildren and loved them all very 
much.
  William Clay Harris leaves behind a legacy of kindness, devotion, and 
faith. He was a loving and devoted husband and father, a kind and 
thoughtful friend, and, above all, a man of deep faith. He attended the 
Metropolitan Baptist Church in Houston and the Faith Family Community 
Church of the Nazarene and the First Baptist Church of Central Florida 
in Orlando. During the final years of his life, Bill became 
increasingly proud of his service to his country and further 
strengthened his belief in Jesus Christ and His transforming grace.
  I am saddened by the loss of such a valuable member of the Central 
Florida community and extend my heartfelt condolences to his family.

                          ____________________