Recognizing Marshall Rauch's 100th Birthday

Floor Speech

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Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of the 100th birthday of one of North Carolina's greatest statesmen, Marshall Rauch.

Growing up in Gaston County, Marshall Rauch was my State senator. He served 24 years in the State senate, representing Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln, and Rutherford Counties, all parts of my congressional district.

Prior to that, he was on the Gastonia City Council for 14 years. He was one of the most powerful elected officials in the State, serving as chair of the North Carolina Senate Finance Committee, and that was before our Governor had a veto. His service was also groundbreaking. Senator Rauch was one of the first Jewish elected officials in North Carolina.

But let's back up to where it all started. Marshall Rauch came south from his native New York City to play basketball at Duke University in the 1940s. That was long before anyone had heard of Coach K. In fact, he played for Coach Eddie Cameron in the first year that Duke Indoor Stadium was open, long before that legendary venue would be renamed for Coach Cameron.

Marshall's time at Duke was cut short by World War II, where he served bravely. However, he will always have Duke to thank for meeting his wife of 64 years, Jeanne.

After the war, they settled in Jeanne's native Gaston County, where Marshall started Rauch Industries, thus beginning his prolific business and political career. Rauch Industries in Gastonia grew into a leading manufacturer. I knew it well because I mowed the grass around his facility for a number of years.

Rauch Industries provided jobs to thousands and stood as a pillar of the civic and charitable community in Gaston County, and we are grateful for it.

It was not lost on anyone that this business owned by a leading Jewish citizen was one of the world's leading manufacturers of what, you may ask? Christmas ornaments.

Senator Rauch was recently quoted as saying: ``In Judaism, there are eight degrees of charity, and the highest and best charity you can do is to help someone in a manner that they don't need help anymore.''

Senator, you have done that in many ways for lots of people for a number of years, and we are all the better for it. Remembering Walter Stine Isenhower

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Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, few people these days associate politicians with humility, but Catawba County in my district benefited from the service of one such person for many decades. Walter Stine Isenhower, known as Mr. Catawba County, passed away in January at the age of 95, and I rise today to honor his legacy and service to our area.

Stine was a lifelong Republican who served as chairman of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners and as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

His impact is still felt in the community from many issues that he championed, including support for the local community college and the county hospital.

Stine was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a volunteer fireman, and he held various leadership roles with his beloved church, Concordia Lutheran.

His favorite saying was that a day out of Catawba County is a day wasted. We thank Stine for devoting his life to making our lives better.

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