CELEBRATING COACH LAMAR KIRKLEY'S 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATING COACH LAMAR KIRKLEY'S 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)] [House] [Page H116] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING COACH LAMAR KIRKLEY'S 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter) for 5 minutes. Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Coach Lamar Kirkley's 50-year anniversary with the Savannah Country Day School. Mr. Kirkley has spent the past five decades coaching and teaching students at Savannah Country Day. He had led the boys' basketball team as well as the boys' and girls' cross-country and tennis team. Mr. Kirkley has earned a spot in the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame and received the Teacher of the Year award in 2020 from the Exchange Club of Savannah. He also won the Savannah Morning News Coach of the Year award several times and across many different sports. Mr. Kirkley was previously a stellar basketball player during his years at Armstrong State University. He has expressed that teaching and coaching go hand in hand, and he has excelled at both. Mr. Kirkley has an excellent ability to relate to students, colleagues, players, and parents, and continues to excel in his career. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Mr. Kirkley on 50 impactful years at Savannah Country Day, and I thank him for what he has done for our three sons. Mourning the Loss of Vincent Fort Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of Vincent Fort, who sadly passed away in December from cancer at the age of 68. Mr. Fort was a former Democratic leader in the Georgia State Senate and a candidate for Atlanta mayor and Congress, who advocated for causes he believed in for many decades. After his 1996 election to the 39th District in the State senate, Mr. Fort went on to be re-elected 10 times. Mr. Fort earned his undergraduate degree in history at Central Connecticut State College in 1978 and moved to Atlanta to study African-American history shortly thereafter. There he wrote his thesis on the sit-in movement at the Atlanta University Center, where he later taught history. Mr. Fort had several remarkable legislative achievements, including laws that took effect in 2002 targeting abusive lending practices. Mr. Fort will forever be remembered as a remarkable man who was committed to leadership, justice, and service throughout his life. Madam Speaker, I can attest to this as I had the honor of serving with Vincent Fort in the Georgia State Senate. Congratulating United Way's Woman of the Year Stacy Jennings Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Stacy Jennings on being named United Way's 2025 Woman of the Year. Ms. Jennings has been a longtime volunteer and the heart of community service in Savannah. She has spent 33 years with the United Way of the Coastal Empire, where she has served on the board, several committees, and helped fundraise. Ms. Jennings is also the executive director of communications for the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education. She has proven herself to be a dedicated leader and impactful server of the community by supporting families and students across the community within the school system. Ms. Jennings' honorable achievement as United Way's Woman of the Year will be celebrated in March at the Women Who Rule event, hosted at the Savannah Convention Center. She currently serves on the marketing committee and has not stopped her efforts to join new committees since she started at the United Way of the Coastal Empire. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Ms. Jennings on this incredible accomplishment and thank her for her dedicated service to the city of Savannah. Mourning the Loss of Sheriff Charles Wilbert ``Chunk'' Jones Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of former McIntosh County Sheriff, Charles Wilbert ``Chunk'' Jones. Mr. Jones lived an honorable life, serving in the U.S. Army's D Company. He also served in Vietnam back in 1968. Mr. Jones' career in law enforcement began in 1971 with the Brunswick Police Department and he later joined the city of Darien Police Department. After joining the city of Darien, Mr. Jones was promoted to the chief of police. After his time at the Darien Police Department, Mr. Jones joined the Georgia State Patrol where he graduated as a State trooper. He also returned to his hometown and accepted the captain position with the city of Darien. He then won his first sheriff's election to serve the community from 1993 to 1998. Mr. Jones was also a commercial shrimp fisherman and captain of his shrimp boat, Lady Vanessa, which was named after his daughter. Mr. Jones married his high school sweetheart, the late Brenda Marie Jones, with whom he shared three children: Christopher, Vanessa, and Felica. Madam Speaker, today we honor his life and hold his family in our thoughts and prayers. ____________________