[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 46 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E507-E508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRATULATIONS TO BROCK SANDERS

                                 ______


                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 29, 1996

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate Mr. Brock

[[Page E508]]

Sanders of Murfreesboro, TN on his upcoming retirement as executive 
director of the United Way of Rutherford County. After 15 years of 
dedicated service, Brock will retire on April 15, 1996.
  Brock has spent his entire life in positions of public service. After 
playing football at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and 
graduating in 1956, Brock was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 
U.S. Air Force through the ROTC program. During the next 20 years, 
Brock held many positions which were instrumental in leading our 
country to victory in the cold war. From his service in Vietnam to his 
time as an instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Brock was an 
invaluable officer in our Nation's service.
  After retiring in 1980 as a colonel from the Air Force, Brock retired 
to his home to Murfreesboro, only to continue serving his community. As 
executive director of the United Way of Rutherford County, he saw a 
remarkable increase in pledges. During a time in which the national 
average for increase in United Way pledges was 105 percent, Brock 
Sanders oversaw an increase of 849 percent. The United Way of 
Rutherford County has been recognized numerous times for having one of 
the strongest bases of support in the nation. This success has been due 
in large part to the leadership of Brock Sanders.
  I want to thank Brock for his many years of service, congratulate him 
on a job well done, and wish him the best in his retirement.
                                             Rutherford County and


                                  Cannon County Circuit Court,

                                 Murfreesboro, TN, March 14, 1996.
     Representative Bart Gordon,
     Murfreesboro, TN.
       Dear Bart: Thank you for your help with the presentation of 
     the resolution for Brock Sanders. Enclosed please find a 
     biographical sketch regarding Brock and his accomplishments. 
     If I can provide additional information, please contact me.
           With kindest regards,
                                                       Don R. Ash,
                                                    Circuit Judge.
       Enclosure.
       James Brockman Sanders, Jr., was born in Rutherford County 
     Hospital on December 23, 1933 and later taken to his 
     childhood home at 107 2nd Avenue in Murfreesboro. Brock came 
     home to two sisters, Jean Sanders (Beard) and Trudy Sanders 
     (Guinee) and one dog, Buster. His dad was owner of Sanders 
     Auto Service on the corner of Vine and Walnut. His mother was 
     a household engineer.
       In September of 1940, Brock entered first grade at Training 
     School (Now Campus School). He completed eight years at 
     Training School.
       In September of 1948, Brock entered Central High School. He 
     earned four letters in basketball and three in football 
     under, according to Brock, ``the greatest high school coach 
     in the world'', Mr. Lee Pate. Brock won mid-state and state 
     honors in football and was a member of the 1950 state 
     champion football team. He was a class officer each year, a 
     member of SPO fraternity and served as president of the Key 
     Club. Was also named ``Most outstanding'' Key Club member in 
     the Tennessee-Kentucky district. For three years Brock dated 
     the ``sweetest and prettiest girl at Central'', Fran Summar. 
     He graduated from Central in 1952.
       Brock entered the University of Tennessee on a football 
     scholarship in September of 1952. During Brock's football 
     career at U.T., he made sure the bench stayed warm. He was 
     called ``Midg'' by General Robert Neyland because he stated 
     that Brock was the ``world's largest midget''. Brock was a 
     member of Sigma Chi fraternity and was an Air Force ROTC 
     cadet Wing Commander.
       In August of 1954 Brock married his high school sweetheart, 
     Fran Summar at the First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.
       Brock graduated from the University of Tennessee in 
     September of 1956. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in Air 
     Force through the ROTC. From 1956 to 1957, Brock coached 
     football and basketball at Central High School under his high 
     school coach, Lee Pate.
       In March of 1957, James Brockman Sanders, III, was born in 
     the Rutherford County Hospital. He is now the minister of 
     First Methodist Church of Troy, Alabama. He has a lovely 
     wife, son and daughter.
       In May of 1957, Brock entered the Air Force at Navigator 
     Training in Harlington, Texas. From 1958 to 1963, Brock was a 
     C-124 Worldwide qualified Navigator and Flight Examiner in 
     Dover, Delaware.
       Stephanie Paulette Sanders was born in Dover, Delaware in 
     July of 1959. She is now an educator and household engineer 
     in Atlanta. She and husband Rob Corley have a brilliant son 
     and daughter.
       From 1963 to 1966, Brock was Section Commander at Air 
     University, Squadron Officer School in Montgomery, Alabama. 
     In 1966 and 1967, he was a student and graduate of Air 
     Command and Staff College. From 1967 to 1971, Brock was Chief 
     of Space Navigation Division at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 
     Colorado. In 1971 and 1972, he served as a briefing officer 
     in Saigon, Vietnam.
       Brock was then Director of Student Operations at Air 
     University, Squadron Officer School, in Montgomery, Alabama 
     from 1972 to 1976. In 1977, he was a student and graduate of 
     Air War College. From 1977 to 1980, Brock was a staff officer 
     at Headquarters Air University in Montgomery, Alabama. In 
     June of 1980, Brock Sanders retired as a Colonel of the U.S. 
     Air Force.
       Brock returned to Murfreesboro and in 1981 became the 
     Executive Director of the United Way of Rutherford County. In 
     the last fifteen years under his direction, the pledge for 
     the United Way of Rutherford County has increased by 849% 
     (other United Way chapters have increased by 105%). The 
     United Way of Rutherford County has been recognized numerous 
     times for having the highest percent increase in pledges in 
     the nation.
       After 15 years of dedicated service, Brock Sanders will 
     retire on April 15, 1996. He looks forward to spending more 
     time with his lovely wife and their family, as well as 
     working on his golf game.

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