E1600 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 21, 2012 Recruiter, Mr. Small recruited for the Army Na- It is because of the determination and suc- CONGRATULATIONS TO COLONEL tional Guard. His hard work was recognized in cess of individuals like Paul that America re- THEODORE C. ‘‘TC’’ WILLIAMS ON 1981, when he was awarded as the Top Re- mains the land of opportunity for folks wishing HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE cruiter for the entire nation—having enlisted to achieve great things through hard work and UNITED STATES ARMY 139 soldiers in one fiscal year. This award is ingenuity. On behalf of the Fourth Congres- a testament to Mr. Small’s impeccable work sional District, I congratulate Paul for his re- HON. HOWARD P. ‘‘BUCK’’ McKEON ethic. markable life and career. OF CALIFORNIA Mr. Small’s enthusiastic service to his coun- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES try is demonstrated by his wide range of mili- Thursday, September 20, 2012 tary work, including the California State Mili- f tary Reserve. He served as Battalion Com- Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mander and Director of Recruiting State Wide CRANE HERITAGE DAY HONOREE— pay tribute to an exceptional officer in the and was assigned to the Commanding Gen- EVELYN STRODER United States Army, Colonel Theodore C. eral’s Staff as Staff Duty Officer. Mr. Small re- ‘‘TC’’ Williams. Throughout his 27 years of dis- tired at the rank of Lt. Colonel. With forty tinguished service, COL Williams has personi- years of military service, he serves as an ex- HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY fied the Army values of duty, integrity and self- ample to all in his community. OF TEXAS less service across the many missions that the Beyond the military, Mr. Small continues to Army provides in defense of our Nation. As exemplify true citizenship in his civilian life. He IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the Chief of Programs Division in the Office of the Secretary of the Army, many of us on attended California State University, Fresno Thursday, September 20, 2012 and West Coast Bible College. Mr. Small was Capitol Hill have enjoyed the opportunity to a founding Pastor of Wahiiwa Church of God Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to work with COL Williams on a wide variety of in Oahu, Hawaii and a Pastor of Pinole celebrate a stalwart of our community, Evelyn Army issues and programs. It’s my privilege to recognize COL Williams and his many accom- Church of God in Pinole, California. He cur- Stroder, who is being recognized as this rently serves as Senior Care Pastor at North- plishments. year’s Crane Heritage Day honoree. west Church in Fresno, California. He is a COL Williams, the son of the late Theodore member of the American Legion, VFW, and When I think of what it takes to make a C. Williams, Jr and Phyllis Kane Williams of current Commandant of the Marine Corps strong community, I think of someone like Potomac, Maryland, attended Winston Church League. Evelyn. Communities can be united in many Hill Senior High School in Potomac, Maryland, Robert served as Staff Assistant and Military aspects, but one central component found in and was commissioned as a Second Lieuten- Liaison to Congressman George Radanovich, strong communities is service. And service to ant in the Infantry in 1985 after graduating former Representative of the 19th District of from The Citadel in South Carolina. our community has been at the core of He served from 1986 to 1989 as a rifle pla- California. In addition, he served on the Acad- Evelyn’s life. emy Selection Board for both Congressman toon leader, company executive officer, and Radanovich and me. Evelyn’s journey began in Corpus Christi reconnaissance platoon leader in 1st Battalion, Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring where she graduated from high school and at- 27th Infantry ‘‘Wolfhounds’’ at Schofield Bar- Robert W. Small for his outstanding service to tended Del Mar Junior College before she racks, Hawaii. From 1990 to 1993, he served his country and community. His expertise as a went on to earn a B.A. in English and Jour- as the battalion assistant operations officer then commander of Bravo Company in 3rd member of the United States Armed Services nalism from Baylor University. Later she and life experiences have made his time on Battalion, 7th Infantry Cotton-Bailers during earned an M.A. in American Literature and the Persian Gulf War and at Fort Stewart, the Academy Selection Board invaluable. He Mass Communications from UTPB. is a true public servant, and I wish him contin- Georgia. From 1993 to 1994, COL Williams ued success in his future endeavors. In 1955, Evelyn and her husband, Charles, served as a Senior Infantry Trainer in the 24th Infantry Division Resident Training Detach- f moved from Corpus Christi to Crane. Once in Crane, Evelyn would use her education to give ment assisting the 48th Brigade, Georgia Na- A TRIBUTE TO CHAIRMAN PAUL F. back. She served others as an educator for 28 tional Guard. From 1995 to 1998, COL Wil- OREFFICE liams was a small group instructor for the In- years and continues to serve on the Crane fantry Officers Advanced Course and tactics HON. DAVE CAMP School Board. While Evelyn no longer teach- team chief in the Tactics Department of the In- es, she still remains active in the Permian His- OF MICHIGAN fantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. From IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES torical Society and the Crane County Historical 1999 to 2001, he served as operations officer Commission. Her journalistic accomplishments Thursday, September 20, 2012 and then executive officer in 1st Battalion, include her presented papers and published 23rd Infantry ‘‘Tomahawks’’ at Fort Lewis, Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay work in a variety of publications throughout Washington. tribute to Chairman Paul F. Oreffice of The Texas, and currently she serves as the assist- From 2001 to 2003, COL Williams was an Dow Chemical Company for his distinguished ant editor of the Permian Historical Society Army Congressional liaison in the Office of the life and career as he nears his 85th birthday. Chief of Legislative Liaison where he was prin- Annual. Mr. Oreffice is a true American success story, cipally responsible for overseeing the efficient having immigrated to the United States from One would think that with such a busy operation of the division and managing the Venice when he was 12 years old to later be- schedule, Evelyn would not have time for Army’s legislative portfolio on the Chem-Bio coming the CEO of one of the world’s largest much else in life. However, in between all Defense program. and most recognized corporations. these accomplishments, she has managed to In 2003, LTC Williams left OCLL to take Paul joined The Dow Chemical Company in raise three children, seven grandchildren, and command of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry 1953, after graduating from Purdue University six great-grandchildren—a notable accom- ‘‘Gators’’ during Operation Iraqi Freedom and and serving two years in the U.S. Army during at Smith Barracks in Germany from June 2003 plishment in itself! the Korean War. He maintained a variety of to June 2005. For twelve months, Force Gator international assignments early in his career On behalf of the 11th District, it is an honor conducted combat and stability operations in before being named President and Chief Ex- to recognize Evelyn because she is an exam- southeast Baghdad. In April 2004, while con- ecutive Officer in 1978. His adept business ple of those who have made our nation strong. ducting transfer of authority to the follow-on skills while head of the company helped him Our nation did not become great from the top unit, the tactical situation in Iraq deteriorated become the first person to receive both the down, but from the bottom up—from the peo- and the battalion task force was alerted to Palladium medal and the Chemical Industry ple in our neighborhoods willing to serve and conduct combat operations in Najaf and Al medal in the late 1980s. He was named Chair- Kut. Following decisive combat operations in make their community a better place for others man of the Board in 1986, and served in that south-central Iraq, the task force was ex- position until his retirement in 1992. Through- and their children. Evelyn is one of these indi- tended in Iraq for three months to conduct out his tenure, The Dow Chemical Company viduals. Through this award, she is rightly rec- combat and stability operations in the infa- remained one of the largest and most well-re- ognized for the time and sacrifice she has mous ‘‘Triangle of Death.’’ For operations con- spected manufacturing companies in the dedicated to others and it is an honor to rep- ducted April to July 2004, the battalion re- world. resent her in the Halls of Congress. ceived the Presidential Unit Citation as part of VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Sep 23, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A20SE8.083 E21SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS September 21, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1601 the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. Upon Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me CONGRATULATING MR. DEREK redeploying to Germany after fifteen months in in honoring Mrs. Sylvia Rucinski and congratu- CAVILLA FOR COMPLETING THE Iraq, the battalion conducted reset and full- lating her as she is recognized by the Polonia NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART’S spectrum operations training in preparation to Foundation. SUMMER TEACHER INSTITUTE deploy again in late 2005.