Commending Dr. George Meetze for his Historic Service to the South Carolina General Assembly

COMMENDING DR. GEORGE MEETZE FOR HIS HISTORIC SERVICE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- (House of Representatives - January 21, 2004)

(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, last week history was made in the South Carolina State Senate when the Reverend George Elias Meetze presented the prayer for opening the Senate First Day of the Second Session of the 115th General Assembly on January 13. This marked the 55th year of service by the enthusiastic Dr. Meetze as chaplain of the Senate. He holds the historic record of being the longest-serving chaplain of a legislative body in the world. Every day, as he leads the Senate in prayer, he establishes a new record of devotion to the people of South Carolina.

Dr. Meetze is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, New York Theological Seminary, and Lutheran Southern Seminary. He is the retired pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation of Columbia from 1942 to 1974. Dr. Meetze and his late wife, Margarete Allen, have two sons, George Allen Meetze and William Dagnall Meetze.
In every way, Dr. Meetze is a vital participant of the Midlands community, never missing Rotary, promoting the Salvation Army, and serving the American Cancer Society.

I urge my colleagues to commend Dr. George Meetze for his historic service as he begins a new session.

In conclusion, God bless our troops. We will always remember September 11.