[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 36 (Monday, February 27, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    A TRIBUTE TO JAMES F. BOATRIGHT

                                 ______


                         HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 27, 1995
  Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
distinguished public servant, Mr. James F. Boatright, as he retires on 
March 3 from his position in the Department of the Air Force. Mr. 
Boatright's Federal career spans 39 years of service. He served as a 
commissioned officer in the Army and then entered the Federal civil 
service where he has served in the Bureau of Reclamation, the Army 
Corps of Engineers, the Army Research and Development Laboratory, and 
with the Air Force. Since 1979 he has served with great distinction as 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations. It 
is in this capacity that we in the Congress has become acquainted with 
and appreciative of the many talents of Jim Boatright.
  During the buildup of our military forces throughout the early 
1980's, Jim Boatright spearheaded the efforts of the Department of the 
Air Force to modernize its facilities championing quality of life in 
both the workplace and the living environment long before it became the 
catchword of the Department of Defense. His efforts succeeded in 
providing benefits to all members of the Air Force, active, reserve and 
civilian, as well as to their dependents who accompanied them to Air 
Force installations worldwide. Those installations have come to be 
regarded as a source of pride throughout the Department of the Air 
Force and have served to set the standard of excellence for which 
others strive.
  With the onset of downsizing of our military forces, Jim Boatright 
became the focal point for the Air Force in its planning to downsize 
its infrastructure. Throughout the first three rounds of base closure 
Jim Boatright has directed the Air Force efforts to reduce and he did 
so with the same dedication and professionalism which has been 
characteristic of his career.
  The quality of his performance has been recognized by numerous 
awards, including the Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award, 
the Presidential Distinguished Executive Rank Award and the Department 
of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award. He is the only two-
time awardee of this latter prestigious award. Clearly these awards 
bespeak the respect of those for whom and with whom he has worked in 
the Department of Defense. In his relations with the Congress, 
particularly the Armed Services Committees and the Defense 
subcommittees of the Appropriations Committees, he was respected above 
all else for the integrity with which he dealt with us.
  Mr. Speaker, I salute Jim Boatright for his many achievements 
throughout his distinguished career and I wish him good health and 
godspeed as he and his wife Gloria begin their most well earned 
retirement.


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