[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 148 (Wednesday, November 30, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   TRIBUTE TO CHARLES FENTON GRIGSBY

 Mr. MATHEWS. Mr. President, this year the issue of crime has 
been prominent in the work of the Congress and in virtually every 
election campaign. However, too often we forget that in the end, it is 
the professionalism and dedication of sworn law-enforcement officers 
which is the real key to crime prevention and control. Today I would 
like to pay tribute to a prominent citizen of Tennessee who made a real 
difference in this field.
  Charles Fenton Grigsby, who passed away on October 19, was born in 
1910 in Bethesda, just outside Franklin, TN. He began his career as a 
high school teacher, coach, and principal, then went on to serve in 
World War II as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, earning a Purple Heart 
in action in the Pacific.
  After his return from the war, Mr. Grigsby obtained his law degree at 
Georgetown University while working at the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation in Washington, DC. He later returned to Tennessee and 
pursued an illustrious career with the FBI, including investigative 
work on the Jimmy Hoffa trial and work as a police instructor 
throughout the State.
  Mr. Grigsby's most notable contribution to the State of Tennessee and 
to improving the quality of law-enforcement training in this country 
was his role in founding the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy 
in Donelson, TN. Having worked doggedly for its creation, he served as 
its assistant director from 1966 until 1968, then as director of the 
academy from 1968 until 1976. By the time he left, the academy had 
trained 6000 Tennessee State highway patrolmen, police officers, and 
other law-enforcement personnel. It has since trained many thousands 
more in high standards of professionalism and integrity. In an article 
on the occasion of his retirement in 1976, the Nashville Banner quoted 
him as saying, ``Training in all facets of law enforcement doesn't mean 
a thing unless the officer has integrity. He can do anything with that, 
as long as he has pride in his work.''
  Carrying on that tradition of integrity, Charles Grigsby went on to 
serve for 3 years as assistant counsel and investigator for the 
Tennessee Supreme Court's Board of Professional Responsibility. During 
the last 15 years of his life, he was an attorney in Franklin and was 
actively involved in the Middle Tennessee State University Alumni Board 
as well as the Tennessee Bar Association and other law-enforcement, 
veterans and community organizations. He will be remembered fondly by 
many individuals and groups for his integrity, for his patriotism, and 
for the vigor and good humor which he exhibited until the day of his 
death.
  Please join me in paying tribute to the life of this notable 
Tennessean and American and in extending condolences to his family and 
many friends.

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