Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment
The George ‘Buck’
Gillispie
Congressional Award
This Annual Congressional Award for Meritorious Service is
presented to Senators and Representatives who, in the opinion of the BAVF, have
made significant contributions toward furthering the Foundation’s efforts on
behalf of sensory disabled American veterans.
It is named in "Buck’s" honor, in recognition of the more than 40 years of tireless effort he devoted to the sensory disabled.
A pioneer in the field of blind rehabilitation, his accomplishments are too numerous to mention. One indication of the esteem in which he is held among blinded veterans is the bronze plaque which now stands at DVA’s Rehabilitation Center in West Haven, CT, where he once served as chief, officially renaming the Center in his honor.
THE 2000 GILLISPIE AWARDS
Now in his fourth term in U.S. House of Representatives (first being elected in 1992), Bob Filner has led the successful opposition to cuts in veterans programs. As a member of the House Committee on Veteran's Affairs, Rep. Filner introduced legislation seeking to restore promised benefits to Filipino veterans of World War II, which were rescinded by the 1946 Congress. Now in his fourth term, Rep Filner has introduced legislation to allow military retirees and veterans to use their Medicare benefits at military and VA hospitals.
He became active in community issues while serving (for 20 years) as a history professor at San Diego State University. He was elected as a San Diego School Board Member and to the San Diego City Council. He also served as Deputy Mayor of the City of San Diego. In 1975-1976 he was selected as a Congressional fellow by the American Political Science Association and served and a legislative assistant to Sen. Hubert Humphrey and Rep. Don Fraser.
Rep. Filner earned an undergraduate degree from Cornell University, a Maste's from the University of Delaware, and a Doctorate in the history of science from Cornell University. He is one of only a handful of U.S. Representatives with a scientific degree and one of only 19 Members holding a Ph.D.
THE 2000 GILLISPIE AWARDS
U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions has served the people of Alabama by fighting crime on both the federal and state levels. He has served as that state's Attorney General, as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, and as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. He began serving in the U.S. Senate in January 1997.
He serves on three major committees: Armed Services; Judiciary; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Senator Sessions is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Youth Violence and also serves on the Joint Economic Committee and Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control. He is focused on rebuilding our nation=s military forces, reforming federal education programs to provide more federal dollars and freedom directly to our classrooms, and strengthening our laws to fight juvenile justice.
A native of Alabama, Sen. Sessions earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Huntingdon College and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama. He served as an officer in the United States Army Reserve, reaching the rank of captain.
His numerous awards for Senate service include the Guarding of Small Business Award, the Teddy Roosevelt Environmental Award, the Watchdog of the Treasury Award, and the Minuteman of the Year Award from the Reserve Officers Association.
Previous recipients of the Gillispie Award are:
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