[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 18027] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO CHARLES F. ``DUSTY'' RHODES ______ HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN of south carolina in the house of representatives Thursday, November 18, 2010 Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a South Carolinian, who has dedicated his life to motivating young men through baseball. Charles F. ``Dusty'' Rhodes is the founder of the South Carolina Storm travel baseball team in Charleston, and he has changed the lives of numerous young men through the program. In 2002, Dusty Rhodes saw a need to help boys in the Charleston area pursue a college education through baseball. He began the Charleston Storm travel baseball program with the founding principles of ``attitude, academics, and baseball.'' Attitude was stressed by teaching players how to play baseball with respect for themselves, coaches, fellow and opposing players, umpires, and the game itself. Academics were stressed because many more scholarships are available to those who excel in academics than those who excel in baseball. The players had their grades checked, and the message was instilled that baseball would only last a few years, but a quality education would serve a young person for the rest of his life. The fundamentals of baseball were taught by coaches who had the ability to teach young men the correct way to play the game, in addition to upholding the attitude and academic goals. Playing on a travel baseball team did have its financial cost. However, the boys were never denied the opportunity to play due to family financial hardship. Often Dusty and his wife, Kelly, supported the players out of their own pockets. In the eight years since its inception, the team has evolved into the South Carolina Storm. Several hundred young men have been part of the program, and more than 65 of them have been afforded an opportunity to attend college and play baseball. One former player, Drew Miller provided the following testimony regarding his mentor, ``coach, leader, genuine, role model, giving, caring, friend and now cancer are all words that come to mind when the name Dusty Rhodes is brought up.'' Madam Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in honoring the tremendous contributions of this remarkable community leader. Dusty Rhodes' commitment to helping young men through baseball grows from his Christian faith, his love of young people, and his love of the game of baseball. Now he faces personal health challenges, but his remarkable legacy is etched in his devotion to making the lives of young people better. ____________________