[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 89 (Monday, June 17, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO LUTHER GRIFFIN JONES, JR.

                                 ______


                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 17, 1996

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
American and a legendary leader in south Texas. Luther Griffin Jones, 
Jr. served as Corpus Christi mayor from 1979 to 1989, and upon leaving 
office, was named ``Mayor Emeritus'' by the city council. Tomorrow is 
Mayor Jones' 80th birthday, and true to form, he will combine his 
birthday with an event to support our Sister City Committee which 
promotes economic and cultural exchanges in south Texas.
  His accomplishments are widely known and he is widely loved. Mayor 
Jones continues to live an extraordinary life. He came to our community 
via the U.S. Army. He became the commander of the Corpus Christi Army 
Depot in 1967, a position he held until he retired in 1971, after 29 
years of service to his country. Also in 1971, he was named the 
cowinner of the first Secretary of the Army Award for Achievement in 
Equal Employment Opportunity.
  After serving as vice president of the Corpus Christi Mercantile 
National Bank, he began four terms of service as the mayor of Corpus 
Christi. During his highly successful four terms, he advocated the 
building of two desperately needed local facilities, a new central 
library and a new city hall. The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus 
Christi, which has become a major south Texas tourist attraction, was 
also built during Mayor Jones' tenure. The aquarium has become a major 
element of our local economy.
  In the mid-1980's, Mayor Jones worked with me in our community's 
effort to obtain Naval Station Ingleside [NSI], home to the U.S. Naval 
Mine Warfare Center of Excellence. That community effort was pivotal to 
the eventual decision by the Navy to locate the base in the Coastal 
Bend. Corpus Christi wanted the base in south Texas so much that we 
helped pay for it. The associated bond issue was difficult and Mayor 
Jones' support and advocacy were critical to its success.
  Mayor Emeritus Jones has been dedicated to furthering education 
during his lifetime. From 1987 to 1989, he served as President of 4UCC, 
an organization committed to obtaining a 4-year university for the 
city. He has been an inspirational friend to young people in Corpus 
Christi, and has an elementary school named in his honor.
  He has generously given of his time to causes that add to the 
economic viability of the Coastal Bend. He led a mayor's task force in 
1993, Citizens for Affordable Water, to persuade voters of the need for 
raising the sales tax to buy water. In 1990, he cochaired the community 
investment task force to promote economic development. One year later, 
Governor Richards appointed him to chair the Texas Turnpike Authority, 
which he did at his own expense.
  His life has been the example of his personal commitment to public 
service, and Corpus Christi has seen endless political courage in a man 
willing to tackle the difficult task. I ask my colleagues to join me 
today in paying tribute to Mayor Emeritus Luther Jones, a renowned 
patriot and leader.

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