E812 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 30, 2009 Engine Repair Shop. The USS Tutuila func- of the Year by the United States Track & Field tion on Florida folk life while working for the tioned as a repair ship for the hundreds of and Cross Country Coaches Association WPA’s Federal Writers Project. As a result of small armed craft, or swift boats, used by the (USTFCCCA). her extensive anthropological research, her U.S. Navy and their South Vietnamese coun- Overall, the win marks SUNY Cortland’s writings have become invaluable sources on terparts in patrolling the numerous inland and 22nd national team title, including 16 NCAA African American life during the Harlem Ren- coastal waterways. Mr. Nissen and his fellow crowns in seven different sports. aissance. In all, Hurston wrote four novels and sailors worked around the clock to keep the Madam Speaker, I am honored to represent more than 50 published short stories, plays, swift boats functioning. They were often re- such skilled and hard-working athletes in my and essays, and she is best known for her sponsible for towing boats out of hostile areas district. Please join me in congratulating the 1937 novel ‘‘Their Eyes Were Watching God.’’ and transporting wounded sailors to safety. team and wishing them the best of luck in Madam Speaker, I would also like to recog- During his service on the USS Tutuila, Mr. their future athletic and scholarly pursuits. nize Dr. Gladys Pumariega Soler. Dr. Soler Nissen became interested in the work of the f was born in Cuba in 1930 and earned a med- medical staff and became a ‘‘striker’’ for a rat- ical degree from Havana University in 1955. In WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH ing as a dental technician. He served fifteen 1961, Dr. Soler moved to the United States months in Vietnam and upon his return to the and devoted her career to caring for indigent U.S. he completed training for a dental techni- HON. ALAN GRAYSON children in Jacksonville, Florida. Because of cian. After dental school he was assigned to OF FLORIDA her role as director of the Pediatric Clinic at the medical facility at the Naval Air Station at IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the University Medical Center from 1964 to Lemoore, California. He was later transferred Monday, March 30, 2009 1992, for over 25 years Dr. Soler was widely to Naval Air Station at Kodiak Island, Alaska. Mr. GRAYSON. Madam Speaker, I rise known as ‘‘the Pediatrician.’’ These women have dedicated their lives to He completed his active duty service in 1972. today in honor of Women’s History Month. Upon discharge, Mr. Nissen served as a ci- As March comes to a close, I would like to improving the status of women, and have en- vilian employee at the U.S. Air Force radar commemorate Women’s History Month on the couraged people of all genders, races, and tracking station on Kodiak Island where they House Floor by highlighting the accomplish- ages to reach higher and dream bigger. As a son, husband, and father, it is a great tracked Soviet aircraft and missiles. He re- ments of the many courageous women who, honor and privilege for me to stand before you ceived an honorable discharge as a Dental throughout history, have worked to improve and recognize just a few of the many great Technician third class. He was awarded the the lives of all of the citizens of our great na- women throughout history that have contrib- National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam tion. uted their lives to better the lives not only of Service Medal with three stars and the Viet- Madam Speaker, I wish to recognize those their peers, but of future generations, as well. nam Campaign with Device. Today, Mr. Nis- women whose hard work and dedication have It is important that we continue to honor sen is the owner-broker of Old West Realty in directly impacted the state of Florida, and to such women, not just during Women’s History Chowchilla. He has served as a charter mem- commend them for their accomplishments. I Month, but throughout the year, because they ber of the City of Chowchilla Historical Preser- would also like to recognize the Florida Wom- have done so much to improve the lives of vation Commission, is a life member of en’s Hall of Fame, whose mission it is to high- women and the United States of America. Chowchilla Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, light and preserve the legacies of such 9896 and is a member of the Masons. women. f Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend A native Floridian, Representative Carrie TRIBUTE TO THOMAS F. and congratulate Nis Nissen upon being Meek paved the way for both women and Afri- MCCORMICK named as a ‘‘Distinguished Life Member’’ by can Americans in Florida by serving in the the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9896. I in- state House from 1979 to 1982. She was then HON. ROBERT A. BRADY vite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. elected as the first African-American woman in OF PENNSYLVANIA Nissen many years of continued success. the State Senate, and in 1992 she went on to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES become the first black woman elected to Con- f Monday, March 30, 2009 gress from Florida. RECOGNIZING SUNY CORTLAND A champion of gender and racial equality Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY TEAM throughout her career, Representative Meek Speaker, as Chairman of the Joint Committee sponsored legislation that created the Florida on Printing, I wish to note the passing of HON. MICHAEL A. ARCURI Commission on the Status of Women, which is Thomas F. McCormick, of Niskayuna, New OF NEW YORK tasked with identifying and studying issues York. Mr. McCormick died March 19, 2009, at IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that affect women. The Commission also age 80. From 1973 until 1977, he served as America’s Public Printer, the head of the Gov- Monday, March 30, 2009 maintains and facilitates the permanent Florida Women’s Hall of Fame display, in the State ernment Printing Office (GPO). Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I rise today Capitol. Before his appointment as Public Printer by in recognition of the State University of New Madam Speaker, another Florida-born trail- President Nixon, and following active and re- York (SUNY) Cortland Men’s Cross Country blazer is former U.S. Attorney General Janet serve duty in the Navy, Tom McCormick had Team, which won its first ever national title on Reno. Ms. Reno has achieved many firsts, a successful career at the General Electric November 22, 2008. During the NCAA Divi- and done much for women in her storied ca- Company. He joined GE’s financial manage- sion III Championships at Hanover College in reer. ment program, and in 1967 he became presi- Hanover, Indiana, the Cortland Red Dragons She was named staff director of the Judici- dent and general manager of The Maqua beat 31 competitors with a score of 80 points. ary Committee of the Florida House of Rep- Company, a 420-person printing subsidiary of The team solidly outpaced the second and resentatives in 1971, and is credited with help- GE. Thereafter he headed strategic planning third place finishers who scored 115 and 129 ing to reform the Florida court system during for GE’s power generation business group in points, respectively, and improved on their her time there. In 1978, she was appointed as New York City. He took office as Public Printer previous finishes of fourth in 2006 and third in the first female Dade County State Attorney, a in March 1973, at that time becoming the 2007 to win this year’s title. position to which she was elected six con- youngest person ever appointed to the post. Four of the team’s runners earned All-Amer- secutive times. During her tenure as State At- Tom McCormick served as Public Printer ica honors by finishing in the top 35 competi- torney, she developed programs for drug under Presidents Nixon and Ford and he held tors over the 8,000–meter course. Junior Seth courts and domestic violence. that position until succeeded by President DuBois of Altamont, New York finished sev- Following her time serving the State of Flor- Carter’s appointee. During his term he auto- enth; senior Shamus Nally of Burnt Hills, New ida and as a result of her leadership in the mated GPO’s business systems, expanded York, 11th; senior Josh Henry of Truxton, New area of criminal justice, Janet Reno was ap- management training, and established pro- York, 15th; and junior Justin Wager of pointed the first female Attorney General of gram performance measures for GPO’s oper- Guilderland, New York, 28th. the United States in 1993—a position she held ations. He continued GPO’s program of re- The team was led by first year head coach until 2001. placing hot metal typesetting with electronic Steve Patrick of Batavia, New York and assist- Madam Speaker, another pioneering woman photocomposition technology and advocated ant coaches Kathryn Wagner and Jacob with Florida roots is Ms. Zora Neal Hurston. standardizing print products to achieve sav- Smith. Coach Patrick was named the 2008 Di- In the 1930s anthropologist, folklorist, and ings. He promoted individualized service provi- vision III Men’s Cross Country National Coach writer Zora Neale Hurston collected informa- sion for customer agencies and giving them VerDate Nov 24 2008 04:03 Mar 31, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A30MR8.022 E30MRPT1 smartinez on PROD1PC64 with REMARKS.