The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO DR. ITALY ALBERT ``I.A.'' GREENE
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HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an educator, a veteran, and a fellow South Carolina State University alumnus as he celebrates his 100th birthday. Dr. Italy Albert ``I.A.'' Greene was born on the auspicious day of December 25, 1921 and has been blessed with longevity and a full life.
I.A. Greene was born in Williamsburg County, South Carolina and graduated from Wilson High School in Florence, South Carolina in 1941. After high school, he matriculated at South Carolina State College (now University), but World War II disrupted his plans. In 1942, he felt called to serve and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He received an honorable discharge in 1945 after three years of service.
After leaving the Air Force, Dr. Greene returned to South Carolina State and graduated in 1948 with a degree in agriculture. Upon graduation, he began teaching at Rosemary High School in Andrews, South Carolina, where he taught agriculture, biology, chemistry, and general science for five years.
In 1953, Dr. Greene was hired as the Vocational Agriculture Instructor at Mayo High School in Darlington, South Carolina, where he established the school's first Agriculture Department. While teaching in Darlington, he continued his higher education earning a master's degree in education in 1957 at South Carolina State and completing an additional 30 hours of post graduate work in Secondary Administrative Education.
During the 1968-1969 school year, Dr. Greene became Mayo High School's Assistant Principal. That year he oversaw the school's Accreditation Committee for the Southern Association of Secondary Schools. After just one year as Assistant Principal, Dr. Green was elevated to serve as Mayo High School's Principal.
His first year as Principal in 1969 through 1970 was historic. That was the year the courts ordered schools in Darlington County to integrate. Dr. Greene referred to his experience as ``baptism by fire.'' He often recalls that no college classroom or textbook could prepare an educator to oversee such a significant change. Yet, Dr. Greene says, ``it was the most dramatic and exciting period of my career.''
Dr. Greene spent the rest of his career as Mayo High School's Principal and retired in 1983. In retirement, he has been active in the community; working with Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross, United Way, the Community Action Agency, the Lord Cares Ministry, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, St. John's Heritage Foundation, and Billie Hardee Home for Boys.
His faith is the foundation of his life. He and his wife co-founded Comfort Ministries to offer Christian counseling and Bible study for the community. They also own two mobile home parks in Darlington County to support families in need of housing. St. James the Elder Theological Seminary of the Holy Catholic Church International awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 2012.
Dr. Greene is an active member of Bethel AME Church in Darlington, where he taught Bible study, Sunday school, and new member classes. He has also been a member of the Men's Choir and served as a class leader and as steward pro-tem. Dr. Greene is married to the former Effie Bacote of Darlington, and they are the parents of two children, grandparents of six, and great-grandparents of six.
Madam Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in wishing centenarian I.A. Greene a heartfelt happy birthday. He has led a remarkable life and has had a tremendous impact on the lives of countless students and many others in his community. I offer sincere congratulations to Dr. Greene on reaching this significant milestone and extend best wishes for many more happy and healthy days.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 213
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