HONORING PHIL DECKARD

HONORING PHIL DECKARD

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2685-H2686] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING PHIL DECKARD (Mr. Baird of Indiana was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Phil Deckard, the former mayor of Martinsville, Indiana, who passed away at the end of last year. Phil dedicated 57 years of his life to public service and leadership in Morgan County and served four terms as the mayor of Martinsville. Phil also served as the voice of the Martinsville Artesians, announcing football and basketball games at Martinsville High School. Phil Deckard also served in the United States Navy as an airman from 1958 to 1959, before serving in the United States Air Force for another 4 years. He was honorably discharged as an E4 Airman First Class. I am grateful for Phil's service to Indiana and our Nation. Our condolences and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time. Honoring Joe Root Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Joe Root, who has served Clinton County as a veteran service officer for 25 years and served with the Clinton County Sheriff's Office for 20 years. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 to 1970 and eventually became a VSO in 2001 to advocate for fellow veterans and ensure our veterans receive the benefits they rightfully deserve. Joe Root's commitment to our veterans in Indiana does not stop there. He helped establish the Clinton County War Memorial at the courthouse and has led Memorial Day veteran services and honored veterans with 100-year birthday celebrations. Mr. Speaker, I thank Joe Root for his selfless service to our country and to our Clinton County communities as well as his tireless advocacy on behalf of our Nation's veterans. Remembering Dr. Philip Low Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Philip Low, a remarkable scientist and teacher from Purdue University, who worked on breakthrough studies in drug discovery and cancer research. Dr. Low recently passed away at the age of 78. In his career, he served as Purdue University's Presidential Scholar for Drug Discovery and the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry. He held over 100 U.S. patents and is listed on 600 other patents and 145 invention disclosures. He received some of the highest honors that can be given by Purdue University. Those who knew him well said ``he cared about everybody,'' and ``he spent every minute trying to do good.'' He certainly did, and his work truly helped save lives. I offer my condolences to his family and friends during this time. Dr. Low was an outstanding Hoosier. May he rest in peace. {time} 1100 Catherine Myers Celebrates 20 Years in Community Journalism Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Catherine Myers from Hendricks County, who recently achieved a historic milestone, celebrating 20 years of publishing community journalism. Catherine Myers and her husband, Rick, started a community newspaper [[Page H2686]] publishing business in 2005 when they launched the Business Leader, a newspaper featuring local businesses and business leaders in Hendricks County. They went on to acquire additional newspapers in other counties in central Indiana. Unfortunately, Rick Myers passed away from cancer in 2021. After Rick's passing, Catherine Myers dedicated herself to launching a new community paper, the Hendricks County Community CONNECT, which serves Avon, Brownsburg, Danville, and Plainfield. Catherine Myers has dedicated her life to bringing fresh perspectives and relevant content to our central Indiana communities. I thank her for her commitment to delivering local news, and I congratulate her on 20 years in the industry. ____________________