MOMENT OF SILENCE HONORING FORMER REPRESENTATIVE DAWSON MATHIS
April 2, 2020
MOMENT OF SILENCE HONORING FORMER REPRESENTATIVE DAWSON MATHIS
(Mr. BISHOP of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and
solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding
public servant and friend of longstanding, the Honorable Dawson Mathis.
Sadly, former Congressman Mathis passed away on Monday, April 17, 2017.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 2 p.m.
in Nashville, Georgia.
A Georgia man through and through, Dawson Mathis was born on November
30, 1940, in Berrien County, to Marvin Wilbur Mathis and Nell Dawson
Abell. He attended South Georgia College, now South Georgia State
College, in Douglas. Before seeking public office, Dawson made a name
for himself as the anchor and news director at WALB-TV in Albany,
Georgia, from 1964 until 1970.
30, 1940, in Berrien County, to Marvin Wilbur Mathis and Nell Dawson
Abell. He attended South Georgia College, now South Georgia State
College, in Douglas. Before seeking public office, Dawson made a name
for himself as the anchor and news director at WALB-TV in Albany,
Georgia, from 1964 until 1970.
That year, the young 29-year-old Dawson was elected to represent
Georgia's Second Congressional District in the United States House of
Representatives. He served on the House Agriculture Committee where he
was a staunch advocate for the farmers, ranchers, and producers of the
district and the Nation. He was known for working with lawmakers across
the aisle to find common ground that would best serve the interests of
Americans across the country.
Georgia's Second Congressional District in the United States House of
Representatives. He served on the House Agriculture Committee where he
was a staunch advocate for the farmers, ranchers, and producers of the
district and the Nation. He was known for working with lawmakers across
the aisle to find common ground that would best serve the interests of
Americans across the country.
In 1980, Congressman Mathis ran unsuccessfully for the United States
Senate. After being defeated in 1982 to regain his House seat,
Congressman Mathis became a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., advocating on
behalf of groups including Georgia peanut farmers.
Senate. After being defeated in 1982 to regain his House seat,
Congressman Mathis became a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., advocating on
behalf of groups including Georgia peanut farmers.
George Washington Carver once said: ``No individual has any right to
come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him
distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' Indeed,
Congressman Dawson Mathis devoted many years of dedicated service to
the people of Georgia through his meaningful contribution of energy,
skill, and genuine passion, and for it, he will be remembered for years
to come.
come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him
distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' Indeed,
Congressman Dawson Mathis devoted many years of dedicated service to
the people of Georgia through his meaningful contribution of energy,
skill, and genuine passion, and for it, he will be remembered for years
to come.
On a personal note, Congressman Mathis was one of my predecessors in
serving the Second Congressional District of Georgia, and I was blessed
with his friendship, counsel, and mentorship over the years.
Congressman Mathis was a great Representative for southwest Georgia and
rural America, and I looked up to him as an example of how a public
servant should serve his constituents.
serving the Second Congressional District of Georgia, and I was blessed
with his friendship, counsel, and mentorship over the years.
Congressman Mathis was a great Representative for southwest Georgia and
rural America, and I looked up to him as an example of how a public
servant should serve his constituents.
Mr. Speaker, my wife, Vivian, and I, along with the more than 730,000
residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, salute
Congressman Dawson Mathis for his outstanding public service and his everlasting commitment to improving the quality
of life for our citizens. I ask my colleagues here in the House of
Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to
Congressman Mathis' family and friends during this difficult time.
residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, salute
Congressman Dawson Mathis for his outstanding public service and his everlasting commitment to improving the quality
of life for our citizens. I ask my colleagues here in the House of
Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to
Congressman Mathis' family and friends during this difficult time.
We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith
and the holy spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
and the holy spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
Mr. Speaker, I ask at this time for the House to observe a moment of
silence in remembrance of the late Congressman Dawson Mathis.
silence in remembrance of the late Congressman Dawson Mathis.