Mike Collins: “It is my honor today to rise and to make notice of Representative Carl Rogers, State representative from Georgia, who is…”

“It is my honor today to rise and to make notice of Representative Carl Rogers, State representative from Georgia, who is ending his 22-year career in the State legislature. I want to congratulate him on his retirement. He has served the Gainesville, Hall County area for 22 years. He has served under four Governors, including the last being under his friend, Governor Nathan Deal. Carl was the epitome of a citizen legislator. He knew his people, and he knew what was best; and sometimes, whether he was making calls that people understood or even calls that people were critical of, Carl was always the same. Carl's wife, Linda, has stood by him all these years. They have been married 49 years. Now she is getting him home. For those of us who know Carl, sometimes we think that will be good or bad, but Linda has had Carl for that many years, and she is wonderful. On one special note, Mr. Speaker, Carl's public service transcends, but it is what the man does in private that means a lot. When I was in Iraq in 2008, separated from my family at Christmas, one night I got a text from my wife. When my family was celebrating Christmas without me, Carl showed up on my front doorstep with Christmas presents for my children. Carl Rogers, you will be missed sorely in the Georgia Legislature, but I still count you as one of my dearest friends. ____________________”