[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 19 (Tuesday, March 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MAYOR ERNEST THOMPSON

 Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Mayor Ernest Thompson who has announced his retirement after 26 years 
as Mayor of Artesia, New Mexico. I am proud to honor this great New 
Mexican, who personifies leadership and commitment to public service 
and to his community.
  Mr. Thompson was first elected Mayor of Artesia in 1972 and has 
served continually for seven terms since then. A lot has changed in 
Artesia since Mayor Thompson was first elected. He remembers that when 
he first started, the city had no money for some of the most basic 
municipal necessities. For example, he remembers that the garbage 
trucks didn't even have doors.
  Mayor Thompson has helped to turn the city around. Under him, the 
city's equipment has been improved, new construction has been started, 
and Artesia's economy has flourished. During his tenure, Mayor Thompson 
has been pivotal in bringing the Federal Law Enforcement Training 
Center to Artesia, in improving the conditions of the streets and parks 
and in the creation of Artesia's industrial park, police and fire 
stations, a retard dam, and many other projects important to the 
community of Artesia.
  Mayor Thompson has not only been an active mayor for Artesia; he has 
also served in many other leadership roles. He has been a member of the 
National League of Cities, Southeastern New Mexico Economic Development 
District, and the New Mexico Municipal League, for which he has served 
as President, and as well as First and Second Vice President
  He is also a tireless contributor to community organizations. He has 
served as president of the Artesia Rotary Club, the New Mexico Gideons, 
the Artesia Quarterback Club, and the Parents and Boosters Clubs. He is 
the Finance Chairman for the First Methodist Church of Artesia and has 
a 46 year association with the Boy Scouts of America, for which he has 
served as everything from Cub Master to District Chairman. He is also 
the recipient of the Boy Scouts' Silver Beaver Award.
  Mayor Thompson has been involved in so much as Mayor that we are 
thankful for, but he would probably say his greatest accomplishment is 
his marriage of over 55 years to his wife, Grace. Together, they have 
one son and two grandchildren.
  Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to personally 
thank Earnest Thompson for his years of dedication. New Mexico will 
miss his tireless service and we all wish him and his family the best 
in the coming years.

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