[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8197]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          TRIBUTE TO BOB BURG

 Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, today I want to take a few minutes 
and recognize an outstanding achievement by one of my constituents, Mr. 
Bob Burg. His story offers us a good lesson about perseverance and the 
importance of lifelong learning. His story should inspire others.
  After dropping out of school in the 11th grade, Mr. Burg went on to 
serve in the Air Force for 4 years. Following his service in the Air 
Force, he worked for 35 years in his family business. Eventually, Mr. 
Burg retired from that position saying, ``I had nothing to do. I have 
plenty of hobbies, but you can only fill up your life so much with 
hobbies.''
  Instead, he felt that retirement left a void in his life, so Mr. Burg 
decided to fill the void by enrolling at the University of South 
Carolina in Columbia.
  Mr. Burg, then age 74, said he wasn't the best student in high school 
many years ago. In fact, he admitted his academic shortcomings in his 
younger days.
  Mr. Burg also shared some humorous observations about what it was 
like to go back to college and be surrounded by fellow students several 
decades younger: ``I walked into school and one of the young girls 
said, `Mr. Burg, are you over 60?' I laughed and said `honey, you were 
in diapers when I turned 60.'''
  Well, I am proud to report that Mr. Burg, now age 78, just graduated 
from the University of South Carolina with a degree in history. His 
story serves as an example to us all that education, whether in life or 
the classroom, can be a lifelong endeavor.
  In his nearly eight decades of life he has earned many titles--
veteran who served his Nation, valued employee in the family business, 
retiree, and now his newest title--college graduate.
  Job well done, Mr. Burg.

                          ____________________