[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 149 (Wednesday, December 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE PASSING OF JAMES L. HAIR

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                           HON. MARTIN FROST

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2000

  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize 
the passing of Mr. James L. Hair. Jim Hair was a Navy veteran of the 
Korean War and faithfully served his country as a civil servant for 
over 30 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was recognized 
throughout the Corps for his depth of knowledge of the organization, 
his caring disposition, and his wise counsel.
  During his career he accomplished a number of firsts for the Corps. 
On the Sam Rayburn/Town Bluff hydropower project, he developed the 
agreements with the local sponsors whereby the sponsors paid 100 
percent of the total project costs up front, the first of its kind in 
the Corps. After the passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 
1986, he worked on one of the first cost sharing agreements with the 
city of Austin, Texas. He was the first executive assistant in the 
Southwestern Division of the Corps of Engineers, a very demanding 
position that provides a valuable liaison between the Corps and this 
august body. This is a position he retired from in 1989.
  There are several members here today who have benefited from his 
assistance in developing authorization and appropriation legislation 
for much needed civil works projects and programs throughout our great 
nation. For his outstanding service, he was recognized with the 
Superior Civilian Service Award from the Secretary of the Army, and 
most recently, he was selected to the Gallery of Distinguished Civilian 
Employees of the Southwestern Division Corps of Engineers. He was the 
epitome of the invaluable civil servant.
  Additionally, he was a pillar of his community; the first mayor of 
the city of Briaroaks Texas; Chairman of the Board of Directors for a 
mutimillion-dollar credit union; and an active participant on the board 
of many other civic and private organizations. He was devoted to his 
wife, Wanda, his family, the Corps, and his country. He passed away on 
November 26, 2000, in Fort Worth, Texas, at the age of 68. Jim Hair, a 
truly great American, will be sorely missed by his family, friends and 
the nation.

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