[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 125 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO JIM AND CAROL BAUM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 1997

  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hard work and 
dedication of Jim and Carol Baum, the owners and operators of Baum's, 
Inc. in Morris, IL. The Baum's have been named the 1997 Illinois Retail 
Merchants of the Year.
  Baum's Department Store has been an institution in my hometown of 
Morris since 1874. Jim and Carol have been running the business since 
the 1960's. Jim serves as the president and CEO, while Carol serves as 
the chief buyer and merchandise manager.
  Both Baum's are extremely active in the Morris community. Many people 
often wonder how they have time to operate such a successful business. 
Jim, a veteran, serves on the board of the Grundy County National Bank, 
and is active in the chamber, many of the local community development 
organizations, the Morris Hospital, and our schools. Carol is active in 
the Presbyterian Church of Morris, the Daughters of the American 
Revolution, and the Morris Women's Club.
  I have had the pleasure of working with Jim on many local issues and 
projects important to the area. Jim has been recognized, and deservedly 
so, for his strong commitment and success in revitalizing the Morris 
riverfront area.
  The Baum's have been generous in sharing their wealth of experience 
as retailers on both a national level and the local level. Jim has 
served as a guest speaker and seminar presenter on many occasions 
throughout the country. Many of my colleagues may have run into Jim 
Baum within the halls of Congress during one of Jim's trips to 
Washington to lobby on behalf of his fellow retailers. Locally, Jim 
runs the local morning coffee hour in our hometown of Morris. This is 
where the who's who talks about what is really happening.
  It is truly fitting that this outstanding couple is being honored by 
their peers as the Retail Merchants of the Year. They are both true 
leaders who have given back more to their community than could ever 
have been expected. I wish both Jim and Carol Baum continued success in 
all their endeavors.

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