[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1585]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        DR. ALVIN V. BLOUNT, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 2, 2015

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, today it is with great pleasure that I 
rise to commemorate the contributions of Dr. Alvin V. Blount, Jr., a 
decorated veteran, civil servant and pioneer. Dr. Blount is not only a 
decorated military surgeon; he is also recognized as an outstanding 
physician in the Greensboro medical community.
  Dr. Blount was born February 24, 1922, in Raleigh, North Carolina, 
and was the eldest of four children. He attended North Carolina A&T 
University in 1939 and graduated magna cum laude in 1943. After 
completing his undergraduate degree, he attended Howard University 
earning his medical degree in 1947.
  After, Dr. Blount entered the military as a member of the U.S. Army 
Medical Corps. He served two tours of military duty in Korea during the 
War and returned to Greensboro in 1952. In 1957, Dr. Blount, a surgeon 
by training, became the first African American in North Carolina to 
earn the American College of Abdominal Surgeons' certification.
  In 1964, Dr. Blount championed the integration of Cone Hospital in 
Greensboro and would become the first African American to operate 
there. Dr. Blount's distinguished surgical career includes service as 
chief of surgery for L. Richardson Hospital; a position he held for 23 
years. He was also responsible for establishing the hospital's first 
quality improvement committee.
  On February 1, 2007, Dr. Alvin V. Blount, Jr., received the 2007 
Human Rights Medal from his alma mater North Carolina A&T State 
University. The Human Rights Medal is one of the highest awards given 
by the University and it is presented to an individual for their 
extraordinary contributions to humanity.
  Dr. Blount Jr. has been married to Gwendolyn Harris for over 40 
years. They are the proud parents of seven children. They also have 
nine grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Blount's contributions to our great nation are many. 
He bravely served his country during the Korean War and was time and 
time again a trailblazer in the field of medicine. I ask my colleagues 
join me in expressing the appreciation of a grateful nation.

                          ____________________