[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10697]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DAVID BALDREE

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 2014

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize David 
Baldree. Born in Shelby, North Carolina in 1966 to J.D. and Margaret 
Baldree, David grew up in a home committed to volunteering and giving 
back to the community. Even now, David's parents, a retired school 
teacher and small business owner, continue to volunteer their time 
assisting the visually impaired, the homeless, and the needy families 
in their local area. This lifetime commitment to service was lovingly 
ingrained in David, who spends countless hours giving back to his 
community.
  After attending Mars Hill College on both music and academic 
scholarships, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre, 
David pursued an early career as a performer and entertainer. Soon, his 
focus shifted to production and he spent the next several years 
traveling as a company manager for Sesame Street Live! and producing 
and stage managing in San Antonio, Texas. While in Texas, he worked on 
Governor Ann Richards' final gubernatorial campaign and was honored to 
present the San Antonio bid for the 1996 Democratic National Convention 
to then First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
  After leaving Texas and moving to South Carolina to start his own 
entertainment production company, David was recruited by the Walt 
Disney Company in 1996, where he is currently the Producer for Disney 
Cruise Line. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Entertainment 
Business from Full Sail University and lectures on cruise line 
operations and management at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality 
Management.
  Much of David's free time is spent serving on several boards, 
volunteering his time, and advocating for the rights of others. Serving 
as the President of the Board of Directors for The Orlando 
International Fringe Theatre Festival, he is committed to expanding the 
opportunities for artists in the Orlando area. David is a member of the 
Orange County Democratic Executive Committee and serves on the Equality 
Florida Orlando Steering Committee, both of which allow him to work for 
advocacy and legislation that guarantee and expand the rights of the 
LGBTQ population. David is an active member of the Central Florida 
Softball League, an organization that brings amateur softball 
competition to the Central Florida LGBTQ community and its allies. He 
has volunteered for The Hope and Help Center of Central Florida and 
actively supports the Zebra Coalition, where he not only gives his 
time, but also serves as a role model for the LGBTQ youth with whom he 
interacts.
  The model of service and community involvement that David's parents 
created in their home is a difficult standard to uphold, but David 
continues to prove that he is an incredible asset and a boon to his 
community.
  I am happy to honor David Baldree, during LGBT Pride Month, for his 
political, civic, and professional contributions to the Central Florida 
community.

                          ____________________