July 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E637 cannot thank him enough. I extend my most ‘‘The Legend of the Muy Grande,’’ Part I, II Reverend Dr. George Washington Carver heartfelt appreciation to Major General and III. Leonel Grande continues to be an ac- Richardson, Jr., a learned and devoted man of Mingus; his wife, Amy; and children, Nathan, tive member of Freer, Texas, serving on mul- faith whose bravery in and commitment to the Zoe, and Luke as they embark upon this excit- tiple community organizations and still runs Civil Rights Movement helped guide the moral ing new chapter. the Muy Grande Hunting Village, the largest trajectory of Alabama, our nation and the Madam Speaker, please join me today in gas station in Freer, Texas. world. honoring Major General James J. Mingus on Madam Speaker, Mr. Leonel Garza is a Born in Geiger, Alabama in Sumter County his 35 years of extraordinary military service. Texas legend whose creation of the first deer to George and Louise Richardson, Reverend f hunting contest changed the sport of hunting. Richardson moved as a child to Gordo, Ala- His relentless work ethic, kindness to all, and bama where he matriculated through the Pick- HONORING MR. LEONEL GARZA ability to turn overnight fame into something ens County School System. A lifelong man of long-lasting is well-worthy of recognition. I God, Reverend Richardson began preaching HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ stand here today thanking Mr. Garza for his at the tender age of four and was officially li- OF TEXAS contributions to the world, and I wish him a censed to spread God’s word by the age of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES happy belated 80th birthday. twelve. By sixteen, Reverend Richardson was f pastoring several small churches throughout Thursday, July 16, 2020 the Alabama countryside. Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Madam Speaker, CELEBRATING NELL LONG’S 100TH Understanding the unparalleled value of a I rise today to honor Mr. Leonel Garza of BIRTHDAY good education, Reverend Richardson at- Freer, Texas, who celebrated his birthday tended and received degrees from a number along with the United States of America this HON. MO BROOKS of schools including his BA from Selma Uni- past 4th of July. Mr. Garza has a special place OF ALABAMA versity; an ETA from Southeastern Bible Col- in Texas’ history for his creation of the Muy IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lege; Bachelor of Theology from Sunshine Grande, the first deer hunting contest in the Thursday, July 16, 2020 Bible College, Master of Divinity from Inter- state. denominational Theological Institute; Master in Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, Religious Education from Sunshine Bible Col- Leonel Garza is one of 13 children born to I rise today to recognize Mrs. Nell Long on the Lazard and Olivia Garza. Lazard and Olivia lege, Doctor of Divinity from New Era Semi- occasion of her 100th birthday. nary; Doctor of Humane Letters from Faith were migrant workers that traveled across Nell Long was born in Alabama’s Oak Grant College, Existential Degree from South- Texas and the Midwest to support their large Grove community on July 12, 1920. Her family eastern Bible College; and a LCU Degree family. Leonel married his wife, Elda Garcia, in settled in Alabama long before that. Nell grew from Insurance Underwriters. He also studied 1961 and settled down in Freer, Texas. At that up during the Great Depression, so she pos- at the following schools: Temple University, time, Leonel made a living selling gas, tires, sesses a toughness and tenacity that only true Sanford University, Southern Christian Bible and servicing autos at a small gas station he hardship can produce. Nell worked hard to College, Alabama Christian College, University managed named Center Circle Gas Station. help her family as a girl. She harvested cotton Bible Institute and Interdenominational Theo- Here, began the formation of the Muy Grande, with her father and preserved food with her an unlikely success story. logical Institute. mother. Nell went on to finish high school, Reverend Richardson spread his God-given Let me preface that Leonel Garza is one of most notably, in the light of an oil lamp—elec- the hardest working individuals in South Texas gifts far and wide, preaching throughout the tricity did not come to Oak Grove until 1935. United States and spreading the Gospel. He and pays extra special attention to the per- At nineteen, Nell married James Long and conducted workshops, seminars, revivals and sonal relationships he makes throughout life, started a family They had three beautiful chil- special preaching engagements through which so it is no surprise that success followed. One dren. As an active mother, Nell volunteered as he met kings, princes, presidents and dig- day in 1965, while Leonel was working at a substitute teacher, a 4–H Club leader, in the nitaries from across the globe. He served as Center Circle Gas Station, a man whose car PTA, and on local campaigns. She worked in Pastor at Maggie Branch Baptist, Union Bap- had gotten stuck walked in and asked for help. her children’s school lunchroom. She did all tist, Shiloh Baptist and Mt Hebron Baptist. In Without hesitation, Leonel dropped everything this in addition to helping James on their farm. 1979 he became Pastor of Hutchinson Mis- and drove forty miles to help tow the car. After Nell and James were committed to conserva- sionary Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala- successfully transporting the car, Leonel re- tion in Madison County and the fruits of their bama where he remained for forty-one years fused to accept anything in return and told the labor can still be seen in our community today. until his passing. man ‘‘Just tell you buddies that I’m the hunt- In 1986, Nell was named Madison County In addition to his work in the church, Rev- er’s friend.’’ Woman of the Year for dedicated service in erend Richardson dedicated himself to many This man happened to be Fred Strong: an the community and church. community organizations including the After James’ passing, Nell has remained ac- Outdoors’ Sportswriter. In just a few weeks, NAACP, SCLC, the Montgomery Improvement tive in the community. She is a member of the Leonel’s life would change forever, as Fred Association and the Future Leaders of Mont- local Homemaker’s Club, Hunt Springs Chap- Strong wrote an article about the ‘‘Hunter’s gomery County. He also served on the board ter of the Daughters of the American Revolu- Friend’’ in Freer, Texas. Fred’s story was of Star Management, Inc.; as President and tion (DAR), and of Owens Cross Roads picked up by newspapers all across Texas. CEO of SCOM’s Ministry; as Chairman of the Church of Christ. She has inspired scores with The small town of Freer became known for its Board of the Survivor’s Prison Ministry; on the whitetail deer and Leonel Garza. All of a sud- her dedication to improving the lives of others. Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail Madam Speaker, the Tennessee Valley is den, the Center Circle Gas Station had a line Advisory Council, and on the board of the fortunate to have such an exemplary citizen of cars filled with hunters down the street. Covenant Family Ministries, Inc. With the overnight fame, Leonel wanted to for 100 years. Nell Long’s unwavering hard Reverend Richardson played an important boost his gas sales by creating a deer hunting work, strong family values, and unshakable role in the Civil Rights Movement, belonging to contest, the first of its kind in the state of faith embody the best of our community. an organization known as ‘‘Friendly Breth- I wish Nell and her entire family the very Texas. After realizing that he did not have a ren’s’’, headed by Dr. F.D. Reese of Selma, best as they celebrate Nell’s centennial birth- prize for the first contest, he gave the winner Alabama. The five members comprising this day. the watch off of his own wrist. As this contest organization were at the forefront of initiating continued to grow, Leonel named it Muy f the Selma Movement and were later sup- Grande after the size of South Texas deer. HONORING THE LIFE OF REV- ported by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Now Muy Grande and Leonel Garza are EREND DR. GEORGE W.C. RICH- SCLC, who were sent in as support and who known world-wide and the contest has its own ARDSON, JR. then came to lead the Selma Movement. Rev- hall of fame and continues to attract thou- erend Richardson participated in the many sands of visitors each year. mass meetings, marches and demonstrations Leonel’s work ethic never ceased, as he HON. TERRI A. SEWELL OF ALABAMA comprising the movement, most notable the earned his Real Estate License in 1976 to be IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES events of Bloody Sunday which would later able to visit all the South Texas farms he grew lead to the passage of the pivotal Voting up visiting with his father. In the 1980s, he Thursday, July 16, 2020 Rights Act of 1965. wrote a book called ‘‘The Legend of the Muy Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, Reverend Richardson was also instrumental Grande,’’ and produced three videos called I rise today to honor the life and legacy of in the integration of the University of VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:41 Jul 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A16JY8.007 E16JYPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with REMARKS E638 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 16, 2020 Montevallo.