U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) shared the following video recognizing the 25th anniversary of David A. Perdue Elementary School, which was named after his father, David A. Perdue Sr., in August 1993. Mr. Perdue was a longtime educator and served as Superintendent of the Houston County School System for nearly 20 years.
 
Click here to watch.
 
Transcript:
 
“I’m David Perdue, the junior United States Senator from Georgia. David A. Perdue Sr. was my father. He and my mother, Gervaise Perdue, dedicated their lives to the education of the children of Houston County. I’m so grateful for this celebration of 25 years of Perdue Elementary School.
 
“My father was born right down Highway 96 in Bonaire. He spent his whole life in Houston County except when he was in Europe during World War II and in Korea during the Korean War. My father graduated there in Houston County and graduated from Mercer University. He came back and was principal in Bonaire and principal of Lindsey Elementary School and Warner Robins High School before becoming Superintendent of Houston County Schools, where he was Superintendent for 20 years.
 
“In 1961 when he started and the next 20 years, Houston County saw explosive growth, adding 12 schools and rebuilding Warner Robins High School, as a matter of fact, after it burned down. It was an explosive period. I think the thing he was most proud of was that he and the Board of Education and the principals, teachers, and staff of the Houston County School System integrated the school system without event. He was so proud of the fact that he did it early, he did it because it was the right thing to do, and I know that was a crowning achievement in his career.
 
“He would be so proud of what Principal Andy Payne and the faculty and teachers today and prior teachers and principals and staff of Perdue Elementary, what you’ve been doing for the children. I think if my dad were with us tonight, he’d say one thing: it’s not about the building, it’s not about whose name is on the building, it’s not about who the principal is, or who the teachers are. It’s really about the children. Thank you so much for what you guys do for the kids of Houston County. God bless you, God bless Georgia, and God bless the United States of America.”