[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11483]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING MR. SAM OTIS SMITH ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 85TH BIRTHDAY

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 24, 2017

  Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Sam Otis Smith, 
on the occasion of his 85th birthday, which will be celebrated on July 
25, 2017. Sam is an outstanding individual and I am truly blessed to be 
able to count him among one of my dearest friends.
  Sam was born July 25, 1932 in Charles City County, Virginia. He 
graduated in 1955 with a B.A. in Agriculture from Virginia State 
College and was Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. 
During the course of his career he was awarded three Army Commendation 
Medals; two Bronze Star Medals; and the Legion of Merit Medal. After 20 
years of service to his country, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 
1975. That year, Sam began his tenure as the Director of the Physical 
Plant at Virginia State University, until his retirement in 1989. Sam 
spent the latter years of his career as a Realtor.
  The tenth of eleven children born to Elizabeth Bassett Smith and 
Charles Smith, Sam has always been devoted to his family and friends. 
He remains an active member of numerous professional, charitable, and 
sport organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, I have had the great privilege of knowing Sam for many 
years, and it gives me great pride to honor him on the occasion of his 
85th birthday. I wish him many more years of happiness and success.

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