January 24, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E83 the district I represent is appreciated for its IN HONOR OF THE 80TH BIRTHDAY HONORING THE SS ‘‘ 1947’’ vital significance and extraordinary employ- OF JACK MCCONNELL ment opportunities, and creating jobs. HON. JOHN P. SARBANES Congratulations to Governor Perdue, his HON. MIKE ROGERS OF wife Mary Ruff, and their entire family on this OF ALABAMA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tremendous honor. I look forward to working IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, January 24, 2017 with his successor in this new position in the Tuesday, January 24, 2017 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today tradition of Governor Perdue’s success as to recognize the extraordinary events sur- Governor of South Carolina’s sister state. Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House’s attention today to recog- rounding the SS Exodus 1947, to which a his- In conclusion, God Bless Our Troops and nize the birthday of Jack McConnell. He will toric memorial will be dedicated in the Port of may we never forget September 11th in the turn 80 on February 7th. in Israel this coming July. Global War on Terrorism. Jack was born on February 7, 1937, to John The SS Exodus 1947, originally known as Richard and Mary Heath McConnell in Lee the President Warfield, was a passenger ship f County, Alabama. operating on the ‘‘Old Bay Line’’ between Bal- Jack graduated from Beauregard High timore, MD and Norfolk, VA. The ship served ACKNOWLEDGING THE 75TH School in 1956. He later attended Columbus in that role for nearly 15 years before being BIRTHDAY OF CHARLES A. WEISS Technical College in Columbus, Georgia. repurposed during World War II, when it He used his technical skills as a mechanic served both the and the United and machinist at Perfect Plastics, Ampex Cor- States Navy. Following the war, the ship re- HON. PETER T. KING poration and Uniroyal-Goodrich. He retired turned to the U.S. and was placed in the Naval Reserve Fleet in , where it was OF NEW YORK from Uniroyal-Goodrich in 1992 after twenty one years of service. After retirement he pur- to be sold for scrap. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sued his life-long dream of becoming a cattle Before the ship could be scrapped it was sold to the , the precursor to the Tuesday, January 24, 2017 farmer. He is a lifelong member of Hopewell United Israel Defense Forces. The Haganah intended Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am Methodist Church and currently serves as to use it, amongst 9 other ships, to evacuate proud to rise today to acknowledge the 75th chairman of the Board of Trustees, a position displaced from Europe to what was then birthday of Charles A. Weiss, my friend and he has held for many years. Palestine, at the time under British Control. Before undertaking this mission the ship was roommate from the University of Notre Dame He was elected and served on the Lee towed to , where it was refitted and Law School. Charlie Weiss is a true legal giant County School Board for 6 years. He is cur- crewed, primarily by volunteer Jewish-Amer- who continues to be an extremely active liti- rently serving on the Board of Directors of the ican ex-soldiers. gator with the renowned Brian Cave law firm. Lee County Cattlemen’s Association and the ALFA Farmer’s Federation Board of Directors. Once in Europe, the ship originally designed A proud lifelong resident of Missouri, Charlie for 400 passengers was loaded with 4,454 graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University Jack and his wife Carolyn reside in the Beauregard Community. They have six chil- and departed from the of Missouri before attending Notre Dame Law French Port of Se`te. The ship was intercepted School where he was an editor of the Law Re- dren, Jason McConnell, Judi McConnell, Jen- nifer Sanavitis, Norman Rudd, Rob Rudd and in international waters by a task force of eight view and received his Juris Doctor degree in Angie Rudd and they have eleven grand- British Naval vessels and was boarded by 1968. children. Royal Marines. While the unarmed crew and During his distinguished legal career, Char- Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing passengers fought back with whatever could lie has practiced in state and federal courts the life and achievements of Jack McConnell be turned into weapons, they were eventually throughout the country, including 39 different and wishing him a happy 80th birthday. overwhelmed and taken back to and federal district courts, 8 federal courts of ap- then to displaced persons camps in peals and the Supreme Court f on British prison ships. The events on the Exodus garnered inter- dealing with significant cases which include HONORING CLARKE BLODGETT class actions, intellectual property, securities, national media attention and are considered by historians to have played a role in the pas- antitrust and constitutional law. Charlie has HON. SAM GRAVES also been active in local, state and federal bar sage of United Nations Resolution 181, which OF MISSOURI established the State of Israel. The mayor of associations serving in such key positions as IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Haifa in 1950 dubbed the Exodus the ‘‘Ship President of the Bar Association of Metropoli- that Launched a Nation.’’ tan St. Louis, President of the Missouri Bar Tuesday, January 24, 2017 Memorials and historical markers for the Ex- Association and a member of the House of Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I odus have been placed in the Baltimore Har- Delegates and the Board of Governors of the proudly pause to recognize Clarke Blodgett. bor, as well as France and Germany. I am American Bar Association, plus being on nu- Clarke is a very special young man who has proud of the small role that Baltimore played merous ABA standing committees. Charlie has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship in these historic events and also commend the done much for the Notre Dame Law School, and leadership by taking an active part in the work of my constituent, Dr. Barry S. Lever, serving as President of the Notre Dame Club Boy Scouts of America, Troop 81, and earning with the Jewish American Society for Historic of St. Louis and President of the Notre Dame the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Preservation to dedicate a memorial to the Ex- Law Association. In 2013, Charlie was the re- Clarke has been very active with his troop, odus in Israel, and I congratulate them on cipient of the Law School’s Rev. Michael D. participating in many scout activities. Over the their successful efforts. many years Clarke has been involved with McCafferty C.S.C. Award. f Charlie’s commitment to justice is dem- scouting, he has not only earned numerous SAN BERNARDINO SHERIFF’S CAP- onstrated by his extensive pro bono work on merit badges, but also the respect of his fam- TAIN SAM LUCIA RECEIVES PRO- behalf of indigent clients, most notably leading ily, peers, and community. Most notably, Clarke has mastered the bugle, led his troop MOTION a team of lawyers to win the release in 2009 as the Senior Patrol Leader, and earned the of an innocent man who had spent 17 years rank of Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. in prison for a murder he did not commit. HON. PAUL COOK Clarke also contributed to his community OF CALIFORNIA Charlie and his wife Susan are outstanding through his Eagle Scout project. Clarke built, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES people who are proud parents and grand- installed and organized shelves inside a shed parents. As a friend and fellow Notre Dame at Sacred Heart Church in Bevier, Missouri. Tuesday, January 24, 2017 graduate, I know that I speak for the countless Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in Mr. COOK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to rec- people whose lives have been enriched by our commending Clarke Blodgett for his accom- ognize the outstanding public service of out- association with Charlie Weiss in wishing him plishments with the Boy Scouts of America going Victorville Sheriff’s Station Captain Sam a very Healthy and Happy 75th Birthday and and for his efforts put forth in achieving the Lucia, who has spent 13 of his 27 years in law many more after that. Go Irish. highest distinction of Eagle Scout. enforcement servicing the people of Victorville,

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