I met Mr. Rex Buffington at the 1991 National Tournament. Mr. Jim Copeland introduced us and I wasn't sure why. Mr. Copeland told me Mr. Buffington was with some center, the Stennis Center for Public Service - whatever that was - and something about Mr. Buffington possibly being interested in being a sponsor for the National Student Congress. I was busy running the Congress at the hotel where every possible breakout room was being used as a legislative chamber. Our tab-room was located in a small basement room at the end of a long, dark corridor. I really didn't have the time to stop and visit so I put my arm around Mr. Buffington's shoulder and marched him to the tab room, introduced him to the staff, and put him to work counting ballots. Oh sure, we visited some and when time allowed I took him to several chambers, and if I recall, I left him in one as I went about meeting other responsibilities. I knew immediately that I liked this man but I didn't have the time to do much in the way of Public Relations and I was sure that I had let Mr. Copeland down. I had ignored Mr. Buffington to the point that when he left the congress site at the end of the day I figured I would probably never see him again. I did like the man even though I really had no idea who he was or what the Stennis Center was promoting.

I was a little surprised when I learned that the Stennis Center for Public Service had asked to sponsor the Student Congress. Those were the days when the majority of people viewed Student Congress as a consolation event at Nationals, an event for those students that weren't good enough to qualify in a "real event." Those were the days, despite my optimism and enthusiasm for Congress, I sometimes wondered how many people really cared about congress as an activity. It was indeed positive reinforcement when I learned that Mr. Buffington thought it was an excellent activity and that it fit into the mission statement of the Stennis Center and that Student Congress fostered a positive attitude towards public service.

The following summer the National Tournament was held in North Dakota. Mr. Buffington sent a young man, Mr. Williams, who insisted that I call him "Brother," to represent the Stennis Center. I learned the name "Brother" was the name his kid sister always called him. Consequently, as a child, his friends called him "Brother" and the name just stuck even into adulthood. Brother introduced me to the real Rex Buffington. Brother spoke during our conversations, even though Mr. Buffington wasn't present, much like a little brother might speak of his big brother - his role model and his hero.

Mr. Buffington did attend the next year's National Tournament in Indianapolis and has been present at all since then. I remember treating Mr. Buffington to the finest steak sandwich I could buy at McDonalds when in Indianapolis. He enjoyed our tab-room dinner.

Mr. Rex G. Buffington was appointed Executive Director of the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service when the Center was established in 1988 under a U.S. Congressional mandate "to promote and strengthen public service leadership in America." Prior to his appointment he was the press secretary to Senator John C. Stennis of Mississippi for 12 years. As the Senator's chief spokesman, speech-writer and communications director, he coordinated activities and strategies aimed at achieving the Senator's mission and legislative agenda.

As Executive Director of the Stennis Center for Public Service, Mr. Buffington has been responsible for the development and delivery of programs aimed at attracting young leaders to public service and to provide current public service leaders with opportunities to further develop their leadership skills and capabilities. Participants in Stennis Center programs range from students in high school to Members of Congress. Along with the National Forensic League, he works with many other programs that have similar missions, philosophies and goals, such as:

• Congressional and Political Research Center at Mississippi State University
• Center of American Women and Politics
• The Freedom Forum
• Georgia Commission on Women
• Gruss Public Management Program, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
• The Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University
• John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
• Mississippi University for Women
• U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress
• Partnership for Public Service
• John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University
• Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
• Truman Scholars Association
• NASA Stennis Space Center Education Office
• U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau
• USS John C. Stennis (CVN74) aircraft carrier educational services
  
  

As one might conclude the NFL is definitely in a league of outstanding programs being fostered, sponsored, or conducted by the Stennis Center. One might also conclude that Mr. Buffington places a great deal of faith in the leaders of the tomorrows. Once, when I was thanking him for his sponsorship of the NFL Congress, he told me a story about Senator John C. Stennis. When then President Nixon called Senator Stennis thanking the Senator for his supporting legislation that lead to the passage of a critical defense appropriation bill President Nixon wanted, the Senator simply told the President, "I didn't do it for you, Mr. President. I did it for my country." Then Mr. Buffington looked me in the eye and said, "Harold, I don't sponsor the NFL for you but I sponsor the League for the good of my country."

U.S. Representative Roger Wicker (R-MS) said of Senator Stennis, "The qualities which made John Stennis a Mississippi icon and national treasure were scrupulous integrity, the dignity of a statesman and the genuine spirit of bipartisanship." If I didn't know the record, I would think Representative Wicker was speaking of Mr. Rex Buffington.

I could never begin to imagine the role that Mr. Rex Buffington would play in the National Student Congress and in the encouragement of its growth and development. I also could never imagine the admiration and respect that would build in me for Mr. Buffington as well as for the John C. Stennis mission. I never would have imagined the impact a man that I never met, Senator Stennis, would have toward my attitude for integrity, for leadership training, and to the incredible value of the simulated Congress.

Mr. Buffington wrote in his report to Congress in 2002, "This [Student Congress] program is a fertile training ground for those young people who want to use their leadership abilities to help make our states, nation and world better."

Mr. Rex G. Buffington, II, was born and reared in Meridian, Mississippi. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in communication. He was a news reporter in Memphis before moving to Washington, DC, to work for Senator Stennis.

Rex Buffington currently lives in Starkville, Mississippi, with his wife Anne and children John Gavin and Catherine. His wife, Anne, is a former legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran. Mr. Buffington is very active in his community where he involves himself in public service activities, "practicing what he preaches." He is currently the president of the Oktibbeha County Chapter of the American Red Cross, a member of the Starkville Area Boys and Girls Club, the Starkville Convention and Visitors Center, and the Foundation for Public Education. He is an Elder in his church and President of the First Presbyterian Child Care Center. Mr. Buffington has also chaired the local United Way Campaign and he has served as Friends of Scouting Chairperson and as a director of the Starkville Rotary Club. He is the past president of the Chamber of Commerce and he recently received the Chamber's top award for community service. Rex Buffington personifies the adage of practicing leadership today to made the tomorrow's better.

I liked Rex Buffington that first time I met him and I still do. Today, perhaps, "love" would be a better word. I have grown as a result of our friendship. I am humbled to be in the company of this incredible man, a person who associates and mingles with the Nation's Leaders. It is not in his nature to seek recognition and praise but it should be noted that he has promoted the League and is number three on the list of annual financial supporters. He is humble and unobtrusive in his support. There is not a year that passes that he doesn't ask, "Harold, what else can we do?"

Senator Stennis had a small desk item that read, "Look Ahead!" Mr. Rex G. Buffington does "look ahead" in his support and promotion of Student Congress and the National Forensic League. Since 1991 he has been one of the leading promoters of our educational activities in the League firmly believing that the league does encourage the quest for the Nations Future Leaders.

On behalf of thousands of students and hundreds of teachers, we thank you, Mr. Buffington.

The Stennis Center has been the humble but proud Sponsor of the National Forensic League’s National Student Congress since 1991. The NFL extends a sincere thanks to The Stennis Center for Public Service and to Mr. Rex G. Buffington, II, its Executive Director.

• Official Sponsor of the National Stennis Student Congress.
• Provides National Tournament Gavels to all Presiding Officers at Nationals
• Offers scholarships for the Most Outstanding Senator and Representative
• Offers financial support of over $25,000 annually for NFL student programs, scholarships, awards, services, internet programming and equipment
• Hosts the annual National Stennis Congressional Banquet for all Congress finalists and their Coach
• Promotes and strengthens leadership in Public Service
• Seeks to attract young people to careers in public service and leadership