Guess who came to visit?

Congressman Larry Kissell stopped by our offices on Friday, January 23 to see what great things we are doing here at Central Park NC and STARworks! Congressman Kissell was given a tour of the building, introduced to the staff, and talked about the potential for change in the Central Park region. He was a great visitor and left our staff with smiles on their faces and funny stories about his years working in Star.

Biography of Congressman Larry Kissell

Born January 31, 1951, Larry Kissell is the son of Virene, a retired mathematics teacher, and the late Richard Kissell, a decorated WWII veteran who served as local Postmaster for the town of Biscoe, NC for many years.

Larry grew up in Biscoe attending both Biscoe Elementary School and East Montgomery High School, where he taught for the past 7 years, after a 27 year career in the local textile industry.

Larry attended Wake Forest University graduating in 1973 with a degree in Economics. He then returned to the area, first working in production management at Union Carbide, then joining Russell Hosiery in Star, North Carolina. Larry stayed with the plant for 27 years first through its acquisition by Fruit of the Loom, then acquisition by the Renfro Corporation which ultimately closed in 2003. During his 27 years of textile employment Larry worked in sales, service, administration, planning/scheduling, M.I.S., customer service, order processing and production management.

By 2001 the effects of free trade on the domestic textile industry were becoming evident. Textile plants were shutting down operations all over the area and many production jobs were being sent overseas. Foresight sent Larry in search of a career change. Education had been a huge part of his life, and Larry felt the need to make a difference through teaching. His mother Virene had been a teacher, and his wife Tina also worked in the local schools. In raising his own family, Larry realized that the next generation simply wouldn't have the same opportunities waiting for them upon graduation that his generation enjoyed. Something had to be done.

Once Larry had decided on the next challenge, he was teaching Social Studies in front of a room full of students the very next day after leaving textiles. His former employer ultimately did close laying off nearly 800 workers in the coming years.

Larry is married to Tina Kissell and they have two daughters, Jenny and Aspen.

To learn more about Congressman Kissell, please visit:
http://kissell.house.gov/

Included are some pictures from Congressman Kissell's visit: