Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my profound sadness at the passing of longtime Washington County, Alabama resident and community leader, Mrs. Edith Mae Jordan Wilcox, who passed away on July 12 at the age of 95 after an extended illness.

``Miss Edith''--as she was affectionately known--was born May 23, 1916, in Spencer, Alabama. Her schooling began in the Yarbo one-room school house with her two older sisters. In 1932, she graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile. From there, she attended the University of Alabama where she received an A&S Degree in 1936 and an LLB Degree from the School of Law in 1939. Upon graduation from law school, she was admitted to the State Bar.

Miss Edith and her husband, Roy, married on January 31, 1942. While he served in the Army Air Corps in New Guinea during World War II, Miss Edith became a very active community volunteer and a part of the family's land, timber, and mill business in Jordan.

When Staff Sgt. Wilcox returned from service to his country, they established the Wilcox and Plemmons Sawmill Company. The company remained a vibrant part of the local economy until it closed in 1980.

Throughout her life, Miss Edith was an avid volunteer. She was actively involved with the board of the Washington County Chapter of the American Red Cross, serving as chairman of the Red Cross Blood Program when it was first introduced in the county. She spent many years traveling throughout the state with the Bloodmobile.

Miss Edith was a member of the committee that organized the Washington County Health Council and was appointed to the Washington County Hospital Board where she served for 10 years.

She was elected State President of the Alabama Extension Homemaker's Council and was an active and founding member of the Washington County United Way. For all her volunteer service, Miss Edith was awarded with the Washington County Humanitarian of the Year Award in 1997.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for over 50 years and served as state officer of the Alabama Grand Chapter. She was also one of the founding members of the Washington County Public Library and served on its board for over 20 years.

In 2002, in recognition for her lifetime of remarkable achievement and public service, Miss Edith was inducted into the Washington County Hall of Fame and a plaque was placed in the courthouse in her honor.

Today, Jordan-Wilcox Stadium at Washington County High School bears her family name as a tribute to her vision and generosity. She donated the land for the building of the Chatom Community Center that is also named for her.

During her long and active life, Miss Edith traveled to over 60 countries and throughout all fifty states. She established an art gallery in Chatom to showcase collectibles and memorabilia from her world travels. The Wilcox Gallery and Foundation will continue to educate and entertain the residents of Washington County for years to come.

On behalf of the people of South Alabama, I extend my deepest condolences to Miss Edith's family, including her daughter, Susan Wilcox Turner and one granddaughter, Jordan Anne Garner. Miss Edith's memory will live on through her great legacy of service to our area.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the work of Alabama State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Joe Morton, who has been a leader in education for 42 years and will officially retire on August 31, 2011.

Dr. Morton grew up in Pleasant Grove and graduated from Hueytown High School. He then received his B.S. degree from Auburn University in 1969 and later his M.A. in 1973 and Ph.D. in 1974 from The University of Alabama.

Upon graduation from Auburn, he began a life of dedicated service to the field of education. He worked his way up from a school teacher to the superintendent of the Sumter County Board of Education. He is presumed to be the youngest person in the history of the State to be a local superintendent of education at the age of 27.

On July 13, 2004, he was selected by Governor Bob Riley to be the State Superintendent of Education. Along with a longstanding love of education, he has always held to the belief that Alabama students have the capability to compete with top students from around the world.

In order to engage students' interest in reading, he created and co- founded the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI). The ARI has since become a national model and has helped the National Assessment of Educational Process in 2007 achieve the largest gains recorded in Grade 4 Reading. In 2010, AMSTI was recognized by the Center for Excellence in Education as the model of laboratory education in the United States.

Other educational programs he helped create and co-found were the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) and the Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators and Students Statewide (ACCESS).

At the request of Governor Riley, Dr. Morton also chaired the Seat Belt Study Commission after a tragic 2006 school bus accident in Huntsville. The Commission's research into school bus safety and seatbelts is considered to be the most extensive in the country.

In 2009, he also launched First Choice, a plan to combat high school dropout rates by doubling the number of graduates. First Choice has already helped deliver a greater number of well prepared high school graduates.

As a result of Dr. Joe Morton's achievements in education, Alabama had the fourth largest increase in the number of students who graduated from high school in the Nation. His achievements also paved the way for Alabama to lead the Nation in student enrollment gains and Advanced Placement exam scores.

Above all, under Dr. Morton's leadership as Alabama's Superintendent of Education, the State has achieved its greatest overall educational rating in its history.

On behalf of the people of Alabama--especially the thousands of school children who will reap a lifetime of rewards because of his leadership--I wish to extend congratulations to Dr. Joe Morton for a job well done and for his many contributions to better the education and the futures of many Alabamians. My colleagues in the Alabama delegation join me in wishing him and his family the very best as they start a new chapter in their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with sadness to note the recent passing of Mr. Fred Helmsing, a prominent Mobilian and a distinguished south Alabama attorney who was much respected in our community. Mr. Helmsing passed away on July 9 at the age of 70.

A native of Mobile, Fred was a graduate of McGill Institute, Spring Hill College, the University of Alabama School of Law, and New York University. Upon completion of his education, he returned home to Mobile where he embarked upon a long and respected career as an attorney.

Over more than four decades in the legal profession, Mr. Helmsing rose to become the senior partner of one of Mobile's leading law firms, Helmsing, Leach, Herlong, Newman and Rouse. He was also active in many local civic and charitable organizations.

A noted jurist who specialized in complex civil and white-collar criminal litigation, Mr. Helmsing was a member of the Alabama Bar Association, the Florida Bar Association, the Mobile County Bar Association, the Litigation and Taxation Sections of the American Bar Association, and the Farrah Law Society. He was also a fellow in the America College of Trial Lawyers and the Alabama Law Foundation.

Known to his family and close friends as ``Big Fred,'' Mr. Helmsing took great pleasure in the outdoors and conveyed his love of nature to others. He held a livelong passion for travel and hunting and fishing and was fond of fly-fishing in the American West and shooting pheasants in England. He also spent much time at his hunting lodge in Monroe County, Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, Mobile's legal community and, indeed, all of south Alabama lost a dear friend with Fred Helmsing's passing. I wish to extend my deepest condolences to his lovely wife of 42 years, Susan; their sons, Frederick and Guy; their daughter, Margaret; his mother, Gertrude; and his two brothers, sister and five grandchildren, as well as a long list of close friends. You are all in our thoughts and prayers as, together, we honor the legacy of a truly good man and great friend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of a truly wonderful man, Mr. Joseph B. (Joe) Salter, a longtime resident of Albany, Georgia, who passed away this spring after a series of serious health setbacks. Mr. Salter was 82 years old at the time of his passing.

A native of Arlington, Georgia, Joe Salter graduated from Arlington High School in 1945 and served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. A few years later, in 1952, he graduated from Emory University and went on to spend most of his adult life as a well- respected, successful realtor in the Albany area where he was also an active member of a number of different civic groups such as the Albany Golden K Kiwanis Club, the Albany Jaycees and the Albany Chamber of Commerce.

In work and at home, Joe Salter was first and foremost a man who loved his family, his country and his God and not necessarily in that order. In practically everything he undertook, Mr. Salter sought to expand personal freedom and individual liberties. He was a frequent author of columns and op-ed pieces in the local newspapers of Georgia and through his diverse list of contacts around the country, Mr. Salter soon became known for his heartfelt concerns about the direction of our beloved country. While Joe Salter was the epitome of a southern gentleman, always courteous to one and all, he was also a textbook example of an active and engaged citizen. Many a mayor, congressman, senator and governor knew when Joe Salter was concerned about a matter, especially the role of limited government.

As a husband, father and grandfather, Joe Salter loved his family and worked tirelessly to leave behind a better community, state and country for them to inherit. In addition to being a dedicated family man, Mr. Salter was also a real patriot who loved the men and women of our nation's military as well as our veterans who, like Mr. Salter, had made a lifetime of sacrifices for a better America.

Mr. Speaker, Joe B. Salter was not only a true friend to all who knew him but he was an inspiration to young and old alike and at this time, I would ask the House to join me in extending our deepest sympathies to his widow, Betty Ann, as well as their daughter, Florrie, her husband, Tracy, their son, John, as well as their three grandchildren, Raleigh Elizabeth, Callie Grace and Benjamin Avert.

Mr. Speaker, it is with heartfelt sadness that I rise to note the recent passing of a much-beloved member of the south Alabama community, Mr. Robert A. ``Bobby'' Guthans, who passed away at the age of 82 on June 5, 2011, after an extended illness.

At the time of his death, Bobby was one of Mobile's most revered business and civic leaders. More importantly, he was the epitome of a family man and the dictionary definition of a true ``Southern Gentleman.''

A native of Mobile, Bobby graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1951 with a degree in Chemistry. He was commissioned as an Army officer and spent the next two years fighting for his country in the Korean conflict. Bobby later served on the board of VMI, as well as on the board of Spring Hill College in Mobile.

In 1971, he became president of B-R Dredging Company, a worldwide dredging operation. Two years later, he was named president of Midstream Fuel Service, Inc., Petroleum Energy Products Company and Tenn-Tom Towing Company--a position he held until his retirement in 1999.

Not only was Bobby Guthans an active supporter of Southeastern inland waterways but he was recognized around the country as one of its great leaders. Among his many roles, Bobby served as Chairman of the Board of American Waterways Operators; Chairman of the Southern Region of the AWO; Director of the Executive Committee of the Warrior-Tombigbee Development Association; Director

of the World Dredging Association; and as a member of the National Waterways Conference.

Even with such an extensive business and volunteer portfolio, Bobby also made it a priority to find the time to serve as Chairman of the Board of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce; as a member of the Mobile Economic Development Council; the Mobile Industrial Development Board; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama; the Geological Survey of Alabama; and the Navy League of Mobile.

In 1999, the U.S. Coast Guard bestowed upon Bobby one of its highest honors, the Meritorious Public Service Commendation. In addition, he received the Alfred F. Delchamps, Jr. Award and the National Rivers Hall of Fame Achievement Award. In 1990, the Propeller Club named him Maritime Man of the Year.

While many would have been more than satisfied resting upon this exemplary record of accomplishment, Bobby Guthans--along with his loving wife, Barbara Ann--believed that real fulfillment in life came about by helping others.

As a result, Bobby and Barbara Ann's generosity of spirit and goodness to one and all made them one of Mobile's most beloved couples.

On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, I will always cherish the time I spent with Bobby--learning from him and watching as he used his wealth of contacts and his heart of gold to open doors and help others chase their own personal dreams. Not only was he generous with his time and talents, but Bobby was also a genuine and gentle man, someone Mobile will sorely miss.

During this time of loss for his family and friends, I wish to extend my own condolences to his loving wife of more than 50 years, Barbara Ann, their two wonderful children, Robert A. Guthans, Jr. and Jean Guthans Wilkins; and their five grandchildren, C. Richard Wilkins, Jr., Christopher Wilkins, Michael Wilkins, Robert A. Guthans, III, and Taylor Lynn Guthans. You are all in our thoughts and prayers as you celebrate the life of a man we all loved and respected.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor an Alabamian who for more than four decades has stood watch over our communities and our homes, keeping us safe and risking his own life to protect many who were at the mercy of a fire, an accident or an unforeseen force of nature. On August 1, 2011, after forty-plus years on the job, Orange Beach Fire Chief Forney Howard will officially retire from public service.

Chief Howard began his career in 1970 when he joined the City of Birmingham Fire Department. During his tenure in Alabama's largest city, Forney served in the Birmingham Fire Training Division for five years as Captain and as Chief of Training.

During this period, over 500 firefighter recruits were trained and graduated from the Training Bureau. He had the privilege of being part of the first Paramedic Class in the State of Alabama during the summer of 1973. Chief Howard also served on the Birmingham's first Hazmat Unit. At his retirement from the Birmingham Fire Department, Chief Howard was Battalion Chief for the eastern district of that city.

In April 2004, Forney Howard was appointed interim Fire Chief for the City of Orange Beach, and the following month the Mayor and City Council made the appointment permanent. His experience and abilities were put to the test early in his tenure when Hurricane Ivan made a direct hit on the Gulf Coast in September of that same year.

Under his tenure with the City of Orange Beach, Chief Howard has lead the Fire Department and their Emergency Management services through several tropical occurrences, fires and the 2010 BP oil spill. Less than two months prior to his retirement, Chief Howard directed the Orange Beach Fire and Rescue response effort that successfully battled a significant wildfire at Gulf State Park.

In 2003, Chief Howard was recognized as Firefighter of the Year in Orange Beach, Emergency Technician of the Year for Birmingham in 1975, and has been a past member and past President of the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs. Chief Howard served on the Board of Trustees for South Baldwin Medical Center and is currently on the Board of Trustees for Columbia Southern University, where he also obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science.

A fighter who not only saved lives but is also a cancer survivor himself, Chief Howard

recently told the Baldwin Register newspaper that he always enjoyed his work. ``People's worst days are our best days. That's when we get to do something and help people. We don't want anybody's house to burn, but we know what to do. We don't want anybody to get sick and have chest pains, but we know how to help you.''

On behalf of the people of South Alabama, I wish to extend heartfelt congratulations to Chief Howard for a job well done. As he prepares to pass the reins of leadership, I wish all the best to him, his lovely wife of 45 years, Joyce, and their two children and five grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an outstanding citizen of South Alabama who has dedicated his life to the service of his community and his fellow man. I am proud to inform this House that John Garrard of Atmore, Alabama, was recently honored with the Atmore Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award.

A resident of Atmore for over 60 years, Mr. Garrard has a long and distinguished record of public service. A World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, Mr. Garrard graduated from Millsaps College with a degree in economics and business administration and a minor in secondary education. He soon put his education to good use back in his community.

He began his career as a teacher at Escambia County High School. Afterwards, he joined the First National Bank of Atmore, where he rose to the position of president and where he continues to serve on the board of directors.

Mr. Garrard has also served on the Atmore Public Library Board for 48 years, was a member of the Atmore Rotary Club for 30 years, and was a part of Fountain Prison Ministry for 15 years. Mr. Garrard was also named Atmore's Citizen of the Year in 1981.

Today, even in retirement, Mr. Garrard continues to serve his community as a member of the Atmore City Council. The extent of Mr. Garrard's commitments is considerable. It is because of the work of people like John Garrard that small towns throughout south Alabama, and around the country, are able to thrive and maintain a vibrant sense of community.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Escambia County and South Alabama, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mr. John Garrard for his service, and applauding the example of civic engagement that he has set. His presence is surely felt throughout his community which has benefitted from his many contributions of time and talent. Through his life of service and dedication, he has definitely earned this award, and I am proud to join his many friends and family in saluting him for this most deserving honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a distinguished citizen of South Alabama for his exemplary service to our region and his community. I am pleased to note that Phil Johnson was recently named Atmore, Alabama's 2010 Citizen of the Year.

If a leader is someone who is willing to give of himself in order to benefit society, then Phil Johnson certainly fits the definition of a leader. His stamp on Atmore and surrounding Escambia County is his legacy of developing local arts programs and inspiring a passion for the arts among our young people.

Ten years ago, Mr. Johnson played a leading role in founding the Greater Escambia Council for the Arts (GECA) and has been instrumental in raising awareness for the arts throughout his community.

Mr. Johnson has also performed in, directed, and produced an exceptional number of performances, and helped secure a theater in downtown Atmore.

Thanks to Mr. Johnson's vision and dedication, the residents of Atmore and Escambia County have enormous opportunities in the arts. From actors to playgoers to the young people who have become involved in the arts for the first time, many have benefited from Mr. Johnson's work and achievements.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, the arts serve a vital role in our communities, and they can have an especially large impact in small towns like Atmore.

I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Mr. Johnson for his remarkable service, and to join the people of Atmore in recognizing the great difference he has made in that community.

Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to inform the House that Alabama has lost one of its great writers and favorite citizens. Just a few days ago, our beloved Southern storyteller and gifted author, Kathryn Tucker Windham, passed away after a year-long illness at the age of 93.

Life is a patchwork of trials, triumphs, joys, and sorrows, sown together through generations of experience. When it comes to colorfully interpreting the past, no one could artfully stitch the stories of our state and the Deep South like Kathryn Tucker Windham.

Born in Selma in 1918 and raised in Thomasville, Kathryn Tucker Windham began her writing career early in life, penning movie reviews at the age of 12 for the Thomasville Times. A graduate of Huntington College, she took her first full-time reporting job in 1940, covering the police beat for the Alabama Journal in Montgomery--the first female reporter to earn that assignment for the paper. She soon gained a reputation in the Capital City as a solid reporter. By 1944, she was hired at the state's largest newspaper--The Birmingham News--where she met her husband to be, Amasa Benjamin Windham.

After the death of her husband in 1956, Kathryn Tucker Windham began writing columns for the Selma Times Journal where she also gained attention as a skilled photographer. It wasn't until 1969, when she wrote 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey, that she began her more famous career as a prolific author and storyteller.

From 1967 to 2009, she authored over 30 books on subjects ranging from southern cooking to legends of the supernatural. Her well-known ``Jeffrey'' series of true ghost stories went on to include tales from Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and other Southern states. My personal favorite is her charming 1975 book, Alabama: One Big Front Porch.

While her writing helped establish her bona fides as a storyteller, she did not stop with print. She established the Alabama Tale Tellin' Festival in Selma and was a sought-after speaker at storytelling festivals and gatherings across the country.

Her Southern charm also captured the attention of National Public Radio's All Things Considered, which featured her as a regular Southern storyteller. She also took to the stage as the star of a one-woman play she authored, They Call Me Julia, based on the life of another famous Alabamian, Julia S. Tutwiler.

In 2003, Kathryn Tucker Windham was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor at the recommendation of her friend, fellow Alabama author, Nelle Harper Lee. Today, Alabama Southern Community College in Thomasville houses the Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum.

Mr. Speaker, we mourn the loss of Kathryn Tucker Windham, and we will always be grateful for her devotion to telling the most beautiful and entertaining stories about Alabama and the South. There was only one Kathryn Tucker Windham and we will surely miss her greatly. The thoughts and prayers of our entire state are with her family at this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to acknowledge the loss of Wayne Greenhaw, a dedicated Alabama journalist and one of the finest writers to hail from our state. He passed away May 31, 2011, at the age of 71.

A native of Sheffield and a graduate of the University of Alabama, Wayne Greenhaw was the author of 22 books, many of which were influenced by his southern upbringing and the historical events that shaped his early career as a reporter.

His foray into journalism began in 1958 as a part-time sports reporter for the Tuscaloosa News, followed by a full time job with the Alabama Journal in Montgomery. During his reporting days, he chronicled the segregationist movement of the 1960's and frequently profiled state and national politics, which later led to stints as a stringer for the New York Times and Time magazine, among others.

In 1976, Wayne Greenhaw briefly left journalism for politics, serving as Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign press secretary for Alabama. Nearly two decades later, he entered public service as the Director of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel from 1993 to 1994. In 1995, President Bill Clinton appointed him as a representative to the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism. He was also awarded Travel Writer of the Year in 1995 by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Above all things, Wayne was a truly decent man who had a moral compass and not only knew the difference between right and wrong, but was willing to express it in a powerful way. As one of our best writers--and we've produced some mighty talented men and women from Alabama in this field--Wayne was not limited to any one medium. From fiction to nonfiction, books to poetry, beat reporting to plays, Wayne Greenhaw put his stamp on Alabama literature like few others.

His many books include King of Country, Ghosts On the Road: Poems of Alabama, Mexico and Beyond, The Thunder of Angels, The Spider's Web, Montgomery, The Long Journey, Beyond the Night, Alabama: A State of Mind, Tombigbee, Elephants in the Cottonfields, The Golfer and Watch out for George Wallace. He also authored two plays, Rose: A Southern lady, and The Spirit Tree.

Given his prolific talents, it is, therefore, not surprising that he was the recipient of the 2005 Clarence Carson Award for nonfiction and the 2006 Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing.

His most recent book, Fighting the Devil in Dixie, about civil rights activists confronting the Ku Klux Klan from the late 1950's to the mid 1980's, is considered ``the culmination of his career.''

Mr. Speaker, Wayne Greenhaw has been described by his peers as ``a storyteller'' and ``a part of our State's history.'' Wayne's works always reflected his affection and passion for the history of our state. It is hard to imagine where our state would be without the historical and cultural contributions of this great writer.

On behalf of the people of Alabama, I would like to extend my condolences to Wayne's wonderful wife, Sally, and their family and many friends during this time of personal loss. Wayne's love for Alabama and our people will never be forgotten. May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to acknowledge the recent passing of one of Mobile's most beloved and respected educators, Robert Rutledge.

``Coach Bob,'' as he was known to many, was head football coach, athletic director, assistant headmaster and headmaster over his 33-year career at St. Paul's Episcopal School. He has been described as the heart of St. Paul's and an influential role model for his students.

Under his guidance, St. Paul's athletic program gained statewide respect, including a trip to the 1993 State Championship game.

For three decades, Coach Bob inspired, led and prepared generations of students for the rigors of life, instilling in many the confidence to set their goals high and then work hard toward attaining them.

Bob's enthusiasm for coaching and teaching--and his devotion to improving the lives of each of his students--is what set him apart as a truly outstanding educator.

A former student and now local Mobile attorney, Charlie Potts, recently told the Mobile Press-Register that Coach Bob always followed the Golden Rule. Simply put, Bob Rutledge treated his students and players the way he would want to be treated.

Bob was also instrumental in shaping St. Paul's community service programs, including a fine arts program that today rivals the offerings of many colleges and universities.

For St. Paul's students and alumni, Coach Bob was more than a great educator and leader, he was like a parent and cherished friend. He had a talent for summoning the best in his students and building a faculty and staff that were second to none. Although he retired in 2006, his passing is a profound loss for St. Paul's and our entire community.

Mr. Speaker, I join with so many others from southwest Alabama in mourning the loss of a truly exceptional man who touched thousands upon thousands of lives with his generosity, leadership and strength.

My condolences go out to his wonderful wife of 45 years, Martha, and their children, Kellie, Brett and Dorie. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Mr. Edward Harvey Hoomes, Jr., of Brewton, Alabama, a respected public servant who passed away after an extended illness on June 9, 2011. He was 76 years old.

During his lifetime, Edward Hoomes was a much beloved member of his community, and spent many years working for the Escambia County Commission. E.H., as he was called by his friends and family, honorably served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959, reaching the rank of Specialist 3.

Mr. Speaker, E.H. will be remembered for his character, strength, love of the outdoors and his loving heart. All who knew E.H. will surely miss him.

On behalf of the people of South Alabama, I would like to extend my condolences to his wife, Betty, their daughters, Beverly and Sandra, their son Robert, and their families for the loss. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to acknowledge the loss of a dear friend and a remarkable public servant, U.S. District Judge Alex T. Howard, Jr., who recently died in Mobile following a battle with pneumonia at the age of 86.

Judge Howard grew up in Mobile and graduated from Murphy High School as one of its best and brightest students. He then attended Auburn University, but his studies were cut short by the outbreak of the Second World War. He enrolled in the 106th Infantry division and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. By his 20th birthday, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He carried that formative experience with him the rest of his life, and the lessons he learned during war allowed him to excel at practically everything he undertook throughout his life.

Upon his return to civilian life, he attended the University of Alabama, and graduated in 1950 from Vanderbilt University School of Law. He eventually settled in private practice in Mobile at the firm now known as Johnstone, Adams, Bailey, Gordon & Harris.

Mr. Speaker, Judge Howard's character, years of service and his wide- ranging experiences in law led him to a nomination by President Ronald Reagan for a newly created position on the federal bench in 1986. He was confirmed by the Senate just 15 days after the President's nomination. From his first days on the bench, his influence was felt throughout southwest Alabama.

Cecily Kaffer, a Mobile lawyer who clerked for Judge Howard from 1988 to 1999, recently told the Mobile Press-Register that Judge Howard was an insightful lawyer and an evidentiary genius.

Outside of the courtroom, Judge Howard taught Sunday School at Dauphin Way United Methodist Church for many years and attended services with his family.

My condolences go out to his wife, Anne Boykin, his daughter, Catherine Dawson, and his son, Alexander. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a citizen turned public servant who has earned the admiration and respect of her Southwest Alabama community.

In 2000, Henrietta Blackmon made history as Camden, Alabama's first female mayor. While a newcomer to politics and the campaign trail, Henrietta was by no means a stranger to the people of Wilcox County.

For some three decades before taking office, Henrietta Blackmon was recognized as an invaluable partner in her husband's local medical practice. She administered the business while her husband, Dr. Sumpter Blackmon, treated the sick. In fact, she never relinquished that role even after becoming Camden's chief executive.

Mayor Blackmon came to office on a mandate to take the city in a new direction and she certainly did. Over her three terms as mayor, she revitalized the downtown, balanced the city budget, secured block grants to upgrade the city sewer system and obtained funding that will be used to build a new city hall.

After 10 successful years guiding Camden, Mayor Blackmon surprised many of her friends and supporters when she announced on February 7 that she was stepping down.

However, anyone who thinks the mayor intends to slow down had better think again. She will not only continue to administer her husband's medical practice, but she has also agreed to help run her son's new local construction business.

Camden has progressed under the progressive leadership of Mayor Henrietta Blackmon and her presence at the helm of the city will be sorely missed. I join with her many friends in wishing Mayor Henrietta Blackmon, her husband, Dr. Sumpter Blackmon, and their family the very best in the days and years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the work of Thomas Davis Jr., a respected leader in his field and an outstanding citizen of Mobile, Alabama.

Mr. Davis recently retired as President and CEO of the nonprofit Community Foundation of South Alabama, an organization which has flourished under his guidance over the past 27 years. Beginning as the program's development director in 1984, Tom quickly rose to become its executive director in 1985 and went on to become the president of the foundation in 2008.

Under his direction, the foundation's assets increased from $3 million to over $50 million. Even more impressive is the growth of the foundation's charitable funds and endowments. By the time he left office, this number had gone from 60 funds and endowments to over 400.

Mr. Davis' success is the product of hard work, an exceptional work ethic and an unparalleled ability to lead, which proved handy during his oversight of foundation programs that provided assistance to earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan as well as those recently affected by the Gulf oil spill. He was also instrumental in obtaining health insurance for local underprivileged children.

It would be a hard task to designate one of his many achievements as being his greatest, for Tom accomplished so much throughout his tenure. However, the nonprofit's recognition as a ``Partnership to Build Community Capital'' by the Kresge Foundation is a distinct honor, placing the Community Foundation of South Alabama in an elite group of which there are only six such programs nationally.

On behalf of the people of Mobile, I want to thank Tom Davis for his service and wish him--and his family--continued success in the years to come.