[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 70 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             TRIBUTE TO THE RETIREMENT OF JOHN T. WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED BRYANT

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 1997

  Mr. BRYANT. Mr. Speaker, according to Patricia Pair of The Shelby Sun 
Times, one of Germantown, Tennessee's newspapers, John T. Williams 
``has had a full, interesting life.'' Friends and colleagues call him 
John T., which is to say he's called nothing but John T.
  John T. became a public figure when he served as mayor for the town 
of Trezevant, TN. There, he chartered the town's first Boy Scout Troop. 
After a few years, John T. moved his family to Paris, TN, where he 
helped charter the community's first Chamber of Commerce. In fact, John 
T. served as the Paris Chamber of Commerce's first president, and is 
one of two living charter members of that organization.
  In 1953, John T. sold his insurance business and moved his family to 
Jackson, TN. During that period, John T. was appointed by then 
President Dwight Eisenhower to serve as a U.S. marshal for the western 
district of Tennessee, serving from 1955 to 1960 with distinction and 
honor.
  But serving as U.S. marshal was not to be John T.'s last task in 
government service. He ran for Congress, hiring as his campaign manager 
someone whom we all know as a U.S. Senator but in those days was still 
a little-known Fred Thompson. After his congressional bid and tutelage 
of young Thompson, John T. served on the civil service commission for 
the city of Memphis, and would go on to lend his vast skills and 
services to former Congressmen Robin Beard and Don Sundquist, as well 
as myself.
  John T. has been an institution in numerous communities across west 
Tennessee. His record of public service stands as an impeccable example 
for all public servants. Along with those who have had the opportunity 
and pleasure of working and associating with John T., it has been an 
honor to have had him as one of my employees. John T., though we'll 
always have with us your many feats of volunteerism and helping hands, 
enjoy your retirement. You certainly have earned it.

                          ____________________