[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 20, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HAPPY RETIREMENT TO JIM CAMPBELL

                                 ______


                           HON. GLENN POSHARD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 1996

  Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a good friend on the 
occasion of his retirement. James E. ``Jim'' Campbell has spent the 
last 50 years of his life working for the cause of rural 
electrification. He has spent the last 13 years as manager of the Clay 
Electric Cooperative in Flora, IL, and will retire at the end of this 
month. I would like to thank Jim for his contributions to the quality 
of life in southern Illinois and wish him health and happiness for many 
years to come.
  The work that Jim has dedicated his professional life to is 
especially meaningful to me, because for the last 8 years I have also 
worked hard to improve the infrastructure for the citizens in my 
congressional districts. Improving electrical service to rural areas is 
an important part of this process. I vividly remember when my family 
had our house in White County wired for electricity and the changes 
that brought to our lives. Jim has worked tirelessly to improve the 
living conditions and quality of service for consumers of electricity. 
His career has taken him from Kentucky to Colorado, and he has shared 
his expertise with professionals in Uruguay, Turkey, the Philippines, 
Nigeria, and Bangladesh. Jim has also served on numerous boards and 
associations, including the board of directors of the National Rural 
Electric Cooperative Association [NRECA] Management Committee and their 
Parity of Rates Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, what makes Jim's accomplishments all the more remarkable 
is he has also been a devoted family man. He and his wife Patty have 
been married 49 years and have raised three children and have five 
grandchildren. Jim will be able to turn even more attention to this 
facet of his life, including his yardwork and woodworking. It has been 
an honor to represent Jim in the U.S. Congress, and I wish him 
Godspeed.

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