[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 19 (Tuesday, March 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1288-S1289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RETIRING ARTESIA MAYOR ERNEST THOMPSON

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a man 
who is an accomplished public servant and friend--Ernest Thompson, 
mayor for the City of Artesia, New Mexico. On March 3, Mayor Thompson 
retires after guiding this southeastern New Mexico community for the 
past 26 years.
  Without any hesitation, it can be said that Artesia, the self-
proclaimed ``City of Champions,'' is a better place to live because of 
Ernest Thompson.
  I want to personally thank Mayor Thompson for being a friend and 
compatriot over the years. He ascended to the mayorship of Artesia in 
1972, the same year I was elected to the U.S. Senate. Since then, we 
have developed a very good personal and working relationship that I 
believe has been as rewarding to the people of Artesia as it has been 
to us personally.
  Having once been in a mayoral position myself, I recognize Mayor 
Thompson's 26 years of public service as an example for anyone who 
wants to be in politics at the local level. His tenure represents a 
shining example of dedication, persistence, hard work, honesty and 
integrity.
  Like the artesian wells that were once common in the area, Artesians

[[Page S1289]]

have a certain pride in their community that bubbles to the surface 
when they look at their past and to the future of their city. They are 
proud of the steady growth of their quaint town, its schools, and its 
bedrock values. In many cases, Ernest Thompson has helped foster that 
pride through his tenacious leadership.
  When he leaves office this spring, he will leave to his successor a 
city with greater economic growth and job opportunities, better roads 
and infrastructure, and increased services for children and seniors. 
Through booms and busts over the past quarter century, Ernest Thompson 
has been a staunch promoter and champion of Artesia, and a stalwart 
defender for the rights and needs of small towns throughout the 
country.
  Mr. President, let me take a moment to recount some background on my 
admirable friend, Ernest Thompson.
  A native of central Texas, Ernest Thompson moved to Artesia in 1939 
to work in the oil and gas industry, which is a major component of the 
economy in this region. After decades of work and dedication to his 
family, he retired from his job as a purchasing agent with Navajo 
Refining Company in Artesia.
  Without previous political experience, Thompson was elected mayor of 
Artesia in 1972, and has maintained a dynamic presence in the community 
as a member of the Artesia Rotary Club, New Mexico Gideons, Artesia 
Quarterback Club, and the Parents and Boosters Club. For almost 50 
years, he has been actively involved in promoting the Boy Scouts of 
America in southeast New Mexico.
  But I believe his most notable contributions to the public have been 
as mayor. As Artesia has grown, Ernest Thompson has helped to improve 
the city as a whole. Since 1972, the city has gained extensive 
infrastructure improvements including a new wastewater treatment plant, 
water lines, flood protection structures, and street improvements. 
Under his administration, the city built a new law enforcement center, 
an airport terminal, a community center, as well as new fire stations. 
Artesia's public library and senior center have been expanded and 
remodeled.
  Through it all, Ernest Thompson has worked effectively at state and 
federal levels to win support for his city. As a member of the 
Southeast New Mexico Economic Development District, he has toiled to 
build the area as a whole. A member of the National League of Cities 
since 1973, Mayor Thompson rallied for towns with fewer than 50,000 
residents as president of the Small Cities Advisory Council. He is a 
member of the League's Finance, Administration, and Intergovernmental 
Relations Committee.
  It is through this work to improve the City of Champions that Mayor 
Thompson and I have become friends.
  I take pride in having played a role in winning for Artesia the 
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. I greatly admire city leaders 
who are innovative in creating opportunities to bring good jobs to 
their community. Mayor Thompson, with the support of the city 
counselors, county commission and citizens of Artesia, exhibited such 
innovation in attracting FLETC to the city in 1989. He greatly helped 
in my efforts to convince the Treasury Department that Artesia would 
make an attractive host city for the training facility.
  Almost 10 years after we landed FLETC, I am still impressed with the 
innovation displayed by Mayor Thompson and the community to bring 
opportunity to the area. Buying the abandoned Artesia Christian College 
campus and actively working to find a suitable tenant--in this case a 
FLETC satellite facility--added a new and welcome facet to the area 
economy.
  Taken as a whole, FLETC and other accomplishments will stand as a 
monument to the 26 years of leadership provided by Mayor Thompson. I 
will always admire him and his qualities as a leader. I do not say 
goodbye, but congratulations and thank you. I still look forward to his 
sage advice and discussions about Artesia, Eddy County, New Mexico and 
our nation.
  Finally, I think it is appropriate to note that while Ernest Thompson 
was working as Artesia's mayor, he was at the same time a dedicated 
husband and father. I know his dear wife, Grace, is thankful for his 
love, dedication and care during personally trying times. Together they 
are a marvelous couple.
  Mr. President, I invite the entire Senate to take note of this 
tribute to an outstanding local leader as he retires from public 
office. I ask them to join me and the people of Artesia in expressing 
gratitude to Mayor Ernest Thompson for all he has done on behalf of 
others.

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