Recognizing the Career and Service of Dr. Tom Terry

Floor Speech

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Mr. WELCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer congratulations to Dr. Thomas F. Terry on his retirement after practicing for 45 years as an optometrist. All but one of those years were spent in White River Junction, Vt., not far from his place of birth in Windsor.

Dr. Tom Terry is a prime example of what another Vermonter, President Calvin Coolidge, said in Bennington in a speech on Sept. 21, 1928. During his speech, Coolidge talked about the state he loved--Vermont: ``I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all because of her indomitable people.''

Coolidge's description of Vermont and her people are as apt today as it was more than 90 years earlier. While there have been many Vermonters who fit this description, but no one more than Dr. Tom Terry of Wilder, Vt.

He was born in the Connecticut Valley. After graduation from Windsor High School, Dr. Terry graduated from Springfield College with majors in chemistry and physics. He then attended New England College of Optometry and graduated with a doctorate degree in 1975. A year later he returned to Vermont and set up a practice in White River Junction where he continued to serve his many patients, until his retirement on Dec. 30, 2020.

During his years of practice, Dr. Terry developed a major interest in primary and medical eye care, including macular degeneration and glaucoma care. Dr. Terry was also trained a as low vision specialist and worked, as such, with the Vermont Division of the Blind.

Dr. Terry became well-known for his skills, not only in Vermont, but throughout New England and in national optometric councils. He served for six years as President of the Vermont Optometric Association, as well as 17 years on the Board of Optometry for the state. For 27 years, Dr. Terry did service on various American Optometric Association committees as well as nine years as Acting Eye Clinic Chief at the Veterans Administration Hospital in White River Junction. Dr. Terry' s deep interest in health care matters also led him to serve for 10 years on the Board of the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in nearby Lebanon, N.H.

As much as Dr. Terry enjoyed serving his many patients in Vermont and New Hampshire, he was also instrumental in helping his town and state to promote regional health, economic renewal, and prosperity. In that regard, Dr. Terry was on the Board of Directors of the Mas coma Savings Bank for 18 years, many of which as Chair of the bank's foundation directing charitable contributions to local, regional and state organizations.

My brave state of Vermont may be small, but it is large in its spirit of community and service. Madam Speaker, that is why I take great pleasure in recounting the many commendable attributes and service of my constituent, Dr. Terry for the House and the nation. It clearly demonstrates the work that one individual can do for his town, state and the nation to make it a better place to live and work.

I am pleased to congratulate Dr. Thomas Terry and to thank him for his long service on behalf of our Vermont community. He is one of our ``indomitable people.''

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