[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO JIM SMITH

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
Kentucky businessman whose success allowed him to give something back 
to Kentucky. Jim Smith, who passed away May 31, was one of western 
Kentucky's most successful self-made businessmen.
  Mr. Smith, the youngest of eight children, dropped out of school in 
the 10th grade. After being involved in several construction company 
partnerships, he struck out on his own and turned one bulldozer into a 
multi-million dollar construction business. Jim Smith Construction Co. 
built most of the major highways in western Kentucky. He also expanded 
into other areas, including coal, transportation, a hotel, and a 
restaurant.
  A close friend and business partner, David Reed, was quoted in the 
Paducah Sun as saying, ``Those of us who know Jim well realize 
immediately the void his passing will mean, not only to us personally 
but to all of western Kentucky.'' Former Kentucky Gov. Julian Carroll 
said of Mr. Smith, ``I've known him as a friend, a businessman, a 
citizen of the community, a Christian * * * but of all the roles that 
Jim filled in his life, the one that he relished the most, and agonized 
over the most, was being the father of four sons.'' Even though he was 
wealthy, Mr. Smith required his sons to work and earn their living.
  Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Sandy; four sons, Mike, Rex, 
Chris, and Steve; two stepchildren, Joelle Smith and Joel Weaver; three 
brothers, Hiram, Hugh, and Bill Smith; and three sisters, Geneva 
Youngblood, Imogene Riggs, and Lucille Wade. I would ask that my 
colleagues join me in honoring this extraordinary Kentuckian.

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