[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 120 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THANK YOU, JIM FINLEY, FOR YOUR LOYAL SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 5, 1996

  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it was with mixed emotions that I 
announced last December 11 my decision to retire from the House at the 
conclusion of my current term. As I explained at the time, the decision 
to retire was made more difficult because of the loyalty and dedication 
of my staff--and because of the genuine friendship I feel for them. 
Each one of them has served the men and women of Texas' Eighth 
Congressional District in an extraordinary way.
  Today, I want to thank one member of my staff--Jim Finley, my 
district administrative assistant--for all he's done for me and my 
constituents in the 16 years that he was worked in my office.
  I met Jim in 1980, when I was first running for Congress and he was 
working as managing editor of the Baytown Sun. While Jim and the 
Baytown Sun remained scrupulously fair and impartial throughout the 
campaign, he and I developed a friendship as a result of frequent 
meetings. Jim had worked at various newspapers throughout southeast 
Texas in the preceding 19 years, and had served as the managing editor 
of the Baytown Sun for the previous 10 years.
  I admired his hard work and professionalism at the Baytown Sun, and 
after the election, I was delighted when he agreed to head up my 
district office.
  As a result of redistricting, Jim now oversees three district 
offices--in Humble, Conroe, and College Station. Jim's work in managing 
the operations of my district office was recognized in 1986 when he was 
asked to come to Washington, DC, to advise newly elected Republican 
Members of Congress on the effective and efficient workings of district 
offices. The advice he provided helped many of my colleagues get their 
own district offices up and running in a manner that effectively serves 
their constituents.
  Jim has represented me at countless meetings over the years I was 
unable to attend, and has attended virtually all of my 569 town 
meetings held throughout the Eighth Congressional District.
  Jim has long been active in his community. He is a past president of 
the Kiwanis Club of Baytown, and served as chairman of the committee 
responsible for the construction of the Kiwanis War Memorial in 
Baytown. He is a former member, and past president, of the board of 
directors of BayCoast Hospital. And he is a charter member of the 
Baytown Go-Texas Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
  When he is not working, Jim enjoys spending time with his children 
and grandchildren: his daughter, Robin, and her husband, Steve 
Richards, and their children, Katie and Reid; and his son, Scott, and 
his wife, Jackie Finley, and their children, Devin and Falynn. An avid 
race fan, Jim worked for many years as a member of the pit crew of 
Scott's championship racing operation. And come football or basketball 
season, Jim can usually be found in front of a television set, watching 
his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks triumphing over their opponents.
  Jim Finley is one of those hard-working men and women who make all of 
us in this institution look better than we deserve. I know he has done 
that for me, and I appreciate this opportunity to publicly thank him 
for the dedication, loyalty and professionalism he has exhibited as a 
member of my staff.
  Jim has yet to decide what he wants to do when I retire from office. 
But I am confident that the skills and professionalism he has 
demonstrated as my district administrative assistant will lead to 
continued success in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I know you join with me in saying ``thank you'' to Jim 
Finley for his years of loyal service to me, to the men and women of 
Texas' Eighth Congressional District, and to this great institution. 
And I know you join with me in wishing him, and his lovely wife, 
Margie, the very best in the years ahead.
  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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