E1414 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 22, 2010 but it is incumbent upon us to make sure IN MEMORY OF DR. ROBERT N. ration for the organization’s mission. I am these companies have a plan to respond BUTLER deeply saddened by the loss of a true medical when disaster does strike. pioneer, and a true friend. Dr. Butler always I hope my colleagues will support this sim- HON. ALAN GRAYSON believed that if you love what you do and can ple but overdue legislation. OF FLORIDA contribute to society, then there is work to be IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES done. He worked until three days before his death. He will be remembered for his f Thursday, July 22, 2010 groundbreaking work in the field of geron- TRIBUTE TO CHARLES KING Mr. GRAYSON. Madam Speaker, I rise tology, which has changed the medical land- PICKETT today to honor the life of Dr. Robert N. Butler, scape and will greatly impact the lives of every the father of modern gerontology. Dr. Butler, a American. Pulitzer Prize-winning author, researcher, and f HON. JO BONNER psychiatrist, died at the age of 83 on July 4th OF ALABAMA at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. HONORING THE 50TH ANIVERSARY Dr. Butler was known for coining the phrase OF THE 1960 OLYMPIC TEAM IN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘‘ageism’’ to describe the discrimination NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE AU- Thursday, July 22, 2010 against the elderly. He made it his life work to GUST 27, 2010 help create a health care system in which Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise to Americans would grow old with dignity and re- honor the memory of a longtime Mobile resi- HON. CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK spect. I was honored to be a co-founder and dent, and a very special friend, Charles King OF MICHIGAN to serve on the Alliance for Aging Board with Pickett, who passed away at the age of 74 on IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Dr. Butler. It is truly a privilege to recognize March 4, 2010. Thursday, July 22, 2010 the leading advocate for the treatment and King, as he was affectionately known to his care of the elderly. Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Madam family and many friends, was loved by every- Dr. Robert Butler was born in 1927 in New Speaker, fifty years ago, arguably the greatest one who knew him. He never met a stranger York, and raised by his grandparents on a Olympic team in history—the United States and always had a kind word for others. chicken farm in southern New Jersey. His Summer Olympic Team—traveled to Rome, He served America with uncommon dedica- close bond with his grandparents sparked his Italy and proceeded to take over the athletic tion as a paratrooper with the U.S. Army’s passion and interest in the strength and deter- world. This Olympics, and this Olympic team, 82nd Airborne Division and in the U.S. Air mination of the elderly. not only surpassed athletic marvels, but also Force Reserve. After serving in the U.S. Maritime Service, broke racial, gender and ethnic barriers in The founder of Pickett and Adams Insur- Dr. Butler attended Columbia University, doing so. On August 27, 2010, Nashville, Ten- ance Agency in Mobile, King shepherded his where he received his undergraduate degree nessee will be the home of the gathering of very successful business for more than four in 1949 and medical degree in 1953. He stud- these champions, whose exploits are chron- decades before retiring in 2003. ied psychiatry and neurology as a resident at icled in David Maraniss’ fantastic book, ‘‘Rome 1960: The Olympics That Changed the An active member of the community, King the University of California; later joining Na- World.’’ This event is more than a gathering of Pickett helped launch the Port City Pacers and tional Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, greats. It is also a fundraiser for the Ed Tem- led by example, jogging over 30,000 miles Maryland as a research psychiatrist. He stud- ple Foundation, and proceeds from this event during his lifetime. ied the central nervous system in elderly peo- ple, and helped investigate problems in nurs- will help low income families in Franklin, Ten- Harkening back to his Army paratrooper ing homes. Dr. Butler was a U.S. Public nessee and surrounding communities. I am days, he also enjoyed recreational skydiving, Health Service surgeon from 1955 to 1962. proud to rise in support of this most worth- racking up 115 jumps, including one on his During the 1960’s he maintained a private while endeavor. 70th birthday. practice, while he was a researcher and ger- The names from these Olympics are part of He was a strong supporter of Mobile’s Mardi ontologist at the Washington School of Psychi- athletic history and lore. During the 1960 Gras and was an active member of both the atry. He also taught at several medical Olympics, women’s track and field, heretofore Knights of Revelry and the Comic Cowboys. schools, including Georgetown, Howard, and an afterthought, was catapulted to the world’s Additionally, King was very involved in the George Washington Universities. stage through the incredible achievements of Cellular South 1st and 10 Club, Mobile’s Sen- In 1976, Dr. Butler became the founding di- the Tigerbelles of Tennessee State University. ior Bowl football game and numerous other rector of the National Institute on Aging at the Led by legendary humanitarian, educator community events such as the American Can- National Institute of Health. During his time and coach of Tennessee State cer Society’s Chili Cook-Off. there, he successfully pressed Congress to in- University, , , Madam Speaker, Joseph Kennedy once crease research funding, particularly for Alz- , Edith McGuire, Chandra said ‘‘The measure of a man’s success in life heimer’s disease. Later, he established and Cheeseborough and others illustrated that is not the money he’s made . . . it’s the kind led one of the first comprehensive geriatrics women could perform with grace, class and of family he has raised.’’ departments at an American medical school at honor. I was blessed and remain blessed to King was deeply loved by his son, Dr. Tay- Mount Sinai Hospital. His efforts lead to an have had the personal friendship of Wilma Ru- lor King Pickett, his daughter, Eliska Pickett overhaul in the treatment of the elderly by im- dolph for more than two decades. Her spirit, Morgan, my deputy chief of staff and district proving the education of doctors. strength and service are an example to all director, as well as his wonderful grandsons, Throughout his career, Dr. Butler authored Americans, especially during these racially try- William Roe, Smith Pickett and Michael Mor- hundreds of articles and various books about ing times. These women—young, strong, gan, as well as his lovely granddaughters, the biology and sociology of aging. He wrote proud African American women—shattered Riley Pickett, Taylor Roe, Hannah Pickett and his most famous book in 1975 titled, ‘‘Why traditional and outdated stereotypes, furthering Adalee Pickett. He also leaves behind hun- Survive? Being Old in America’’, which won the cause of equality and justice for all Ameri- dreds of friends throughout South Alabama. In him the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. cans. Coach Temple would end his career as a very real way, we were all King’s family. Since its founding in 1986 until his death, Dr. the greatest track and field coach in Olympic Butler was the Vice Chair and served on the history, as the women on his team won more As his longtime friend, C. Dennis McCann, Board of the Alliance for Aging Research. This than 23 Olympic medals, set dozens of Olym- recently observed in a letter published in the non-profit based in Washington, DC is the na- pic world records, and more incredibly, more Mobile Press-Register, ‘‘King always brought a tion’s leading citizen advocacy organization for than 80 percent of the women coached under contagious happiness to everyone he met.’’ promoting a broad agenda of medical and sci- his program graduated from college. Without question, Mobile lost a great citizen entific research to improve the health and Rafer Johnson, an African American, carried and a dear friend this past March. independence of older Americans. our Nation’s flag, also was the first African On behalf of all those who knew and loved Madam Speaker, Dr. Butler’s accomplish- American to win the grueling decathlon. Ralph King, I offer my deepest condolences to his ments are very personal to me. I help found Boston, another graduate of Tennessee State family. King Pickett lived a truly remarkable life the Alliance for Aging Research and served as University, won the Olympic gold in the long and his death leaves a void which is not pos- an officer for 22 years. I worked closely with jump. The 1960 Olympic basketball team, led sible to be filled. Dr. Butler, as he provided guidance and inspi- by Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas and Jerry

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