E636 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 23, 2007 There are those who pass this way and COMMEMORATION OF THE MORN- The story of the Poth High School Girls touch lives, and there are those who make ING STAR MISSIONARY BAPTIST Basketball team is of a team that fought lives better for having been in our midst. The CHURCH against the odds to achieve one of the best depth and breath of the life of Dr. Emma high school sports victories in Texas history. Moran can be summed in one phrase—she HON. EARL BLUMENAUER The team had lost in the semifinals each of loved, she cared and she taught us how to OF OREGON the previous three years, and their game live through the giving of our talents. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES against Winnsboro was not one in which they were expected to win. The excitement of the Dr. Moran was an educator, activist, advo- Friday, March 23, 2007 cate, and a believer in the sanctity and impor- crowd exploded when Whitney Wehymeyer tance of education. She had this embracing Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, the scored thirty points and Lauren Waclawcyzk personality that while in her presence she Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church has added sixteen points in the second overtime’s made you feel that your words and thoughts been a historic and cultural landmark of Port- final seconds to send Poth to the Class 2A were important to her, and that she listened land ever since May 17, 1959, when the con- state championship with their 72–70 win. and cared. This great woman of faith, tenacity gregation marched from their temporary home Theirs was a story that echoed the classic and boundless energy embodied the better on North Fargo Street to their new home at underdog against the presumptive winner, but qualities of human existence, and she de- 106 Northeast Ivy Street. It was there that due to their remarkable team spirit and strong manded no less from each of us. Dr. Reverend O.B. Williams of Vancouver Avenue determination to win, they came out on top. I Baptist Church preached the first sermon as am very proud that these remarkable women Moran was and is a true inspiration. Morning Star’s guest for the afternoon service. have won the state championship, and that Rest now, my friend, for your work here is The Church building, constructed in 1919, they are from Poth, a city in my congressional done and your life shall live on forever in each and inhabited by Morning Star for the past 48 district. The city has shown strong support of of us. years, has come to represent not only a his- women’s sports teams in their community. toric landmark, but a lively center of worship. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize f The church also embodies an important part the women of the Poth High School Girls Bas- of the modern-day tradition, culture, and fabric ketball team, and I thank you for this time. IN RECOGNITION OF 40 YEARS OF of the community. Morning Star Missionary f SERVICE BY REV. ALVIN R. KOLB Baptist Church has helped to meet the needs PERSONAL EXPLANATION of the community by providing important as- sistance to those around them who are in HON. JEFF MILLER need. In addition, the church offers a venue HON. JOHN B. LARSON for a vital spiritual and social community net- OF CONNECTICUT OF FLORIDA work. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church Friday, March 23, 2007 has endured much restoration and growth in Friday, March 23, 2007 Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam the past, but no one in the community was Speaker, I will like to submit this statement for prepared for the tragic burning to the ground Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on the RECORD and regret that I was unavoidably behalf of the United States Congress, it is with of this historic building on February 6, 2007. In detained with legislative business on March great honor that I rise today to extend my con- a show of support, many individuals, church- 20, 2007 on the vote for rollcall vote No. 164 gratulations to Rev. Alvin R. Kolb for having es, community organizations and local busi- and on March 22, 2007 on the vote for rollcall served as the minister to the Assemblies of nesses have offered thousands of dollars in No. 181. God for 40 years. donations in support of the eventual recon- Had I been present, I would have voted: struction of the church. We thank them for Since 1967, Reverend Kolb has led the spir- ‘‘No’’ on rollcall No. 164 on the amendment their generosity. to H.R. 1227 that would require recipients of itual growth of so many people looking to him It is with admiration and respect that the for guidance in their faith. At the age of 15, he rental assistance under the bill—those dis- long history of the Morning Star Missionary placed from their homes, many of whom lost held his first cottage prayer meeting, and soon Baptist Church be honored. By commemo- after, he began organizing church revivals. It their jobs as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and rating this historic fire and the eventual recon- Rita—to perform 20 hours per week of ap- was at one of his revivals that he met his wife, struction, Portland can help to keep the mem- Maralyn Enfinger Kolb. They married in 1971, proved work activities. ory and present duty of this church alive. ‘‘Yea’’ on rollcall No. 181 on the motion to raised 5 children, and are the proud grand- We stand with Pastor A. Wayne Johnson, parents of 11 grandchildren. suspend the rules and pass H. Con. Res. 66, the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol Reverend Kolb pastored his first church in congregation and their respective communities for a ceremony as part of the commemoration 1973; the Harold Assembly of God began with in solidarity during this trying time. We recog- of the days of remembrance of victims of the a congregation of just five widowed women. nize the sense of loss that all associated must Holocaust. feel surrounding this unexpected fire, and we From there his ministry grew and he went on f to pastor the Assemblies of God at Cedar extend our best wishes to the congregation for Springs, Calvary Full Gospel, Bay Springs, the church’s recovery and restoration. We only CONGRATULATING THE 2007 WE Whitfield, Bradley, and East Milton. So many hope that the church’s capacity to help the THE PEOPLE NATIONAL FINALS have come to know and love the Lord through community it has reached out to over its many Reverend Kolb, and his ministry has prompted esteemed years of service will soon be re- HON. HENRY C. ‘‘HANK’’ JOHNSON, JR. others to become pastors and ministers them- stored to its fullest. OF GEORGIA selves, such as his youngest son, Robert. f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES For the past 10 years, Reverend Kolb has TRIBUTE TO THE POTH HIGH Friday, March 23, 2007 served as the pastor of the East Milton As- SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, sembly of God. Both his family and the mem- TEAM from April 28–30, 2007, more than 1200 stu- bers of his congregation value his committent dents from across the country will visit Wash- to the church and are grateful that he will con- HON. HENRY CUELLAR ington, DC, to take part in the national finals tinue to serve as the leader in their thriving of We the People: The Citizen and the Con- place of worship for years to come. OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES stitution, the most extensive educational pro- Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United gram in the country developed to educate States Congress, I would like to offer my sin- Friday, March 23, 2007 young people about the U.S. Constitution and cere congratulations to a man who has served Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today Bill of Rights. Administered by the Center for as a role model to us all. A deep sense of per- to honor the women of the Poth High School Civic Education, the We the People program sonal service to congregations for 40 years is Girls Basketball Team in their stunning 72–70 is funded by the U.S. Department of Education something to truly be admired and I am thank- double-overtime victory against the top-ranked by act of Congress. ful for his dedication to the East Milton Assem- Winnsboro in the Class 2A championship I am proud to announce that the State of bly of God. game. Georgia will be represented by a class from VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:34 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\RECORD07\E23MR7.REC E23MR7 hmoore on PRODPC68 with CONG-REC-ONLINE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E637 Chamblee Charter High School from Atlanta at chestrating 3,500 sailors to pull together to ac- found herself in a role more familiar to today— this prestigious national event. These out- complish a mission, whether that mission is spending the first of several deployments in standing students, through their knowledge of war, training, repair or preparing to decommis- the Mediterranean to help deal with a deterio- the U.S. Constitution, won their statewide sioning, is a monumental task. The Kennedy’s rating situation in the Middle East.