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Floor Speech

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Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. John DeFoore, Sr. At 105 years old, Mr. DeFoore is one of the oldest living graduates of Mississippi College. Born on June 12, 1919, Mr. DeFoore left his home at 17 years old to work with a construction crew. When he finished high school, Mr. DeFoore hitchhiked to Clinton, Mississippi, to enroll at Mississippi College. Mr. DeFoore knew the importance of gaining a good education and thought the best place would be Mississippi College. While at Mississippi College, Mr. Defoore milked cows to pay for his room and tuition. Mr. DeFoore was an atheist when he entered Mississippi College, but he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior while a student and became an ordained Baptist minister in 1941.

While in college, Mr. DeFoore joined a National Guard band to keep up his musical skills and gain a school scholarship. Shortly after, the band was inducted into the federal service, and Mr. DeFoore was sent for one-year training at Camp Landing, Florida. What started out as a one-year training turned into seven years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Mr. DeFoore was promoted from Private-First Class to Second Lieutenant during his service and received the Bronze Cross for service ``above and beyond'' during an amphibious landing on Morotai Island, Indonesia.

After his service, Mr. DeFoore returned to Mississippi College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1947. Mr. Defoore went on to earn his Master of Theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Since graduating, Mr. DeFoore has continued to invest both in his alma mater, Mississippi College, and in Mississippi. His family still lives in the state, but Mr. DeFoore has retired to Texas.

I am proud to recognize Mr. John DeFoore, Sr. and his service to our country. Stories like Mr. DeFoore's remind us of the value of the American Dream, the significance of living a life of one's calling, and leaving a legacy of service.

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