[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 26 (Thursday, March 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF JOHN JUSTIN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2001

  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the life 
of a great Texan, John Justin, Jr. Mr. Justin passed away Monday at his 
home in Fort Worth, Texas. He was 84 years old. Mr. Justin was a boot 
maker and civic leader who was a tireless promoter of Fort Worth's 
western heritage. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Jane, 
his daughter Mary, son David, and to all of his family at this 
difficult time in their lives.
  Mr. Justin was born in Nocona, Texas on January 17th, 1917 to John 
and Ruby Justin. He attended high school in Fort Worth but left as a 
teenager to come to Washington, DC, where he took a job as a messenger 
and graduated from night high school. He attended Oklahoma A&M and then 
returned to Texas to attend Texas Christian University. Mr. Justin 
served as a member of the TCU board of trustees since 1979, and was a 
longstanding booster. The athletic center at the university is named in 
his honor.
  He started the Justin Barton Belt Company with a partner and produced 
fashionable belts. The company continued to thrive during Mr. Justin's 
service in the Merchant Marines during World War 11. In 1950, he took 
the reigns of the family business. Mr. Justin was the third generation 
to run Justin Industries, the family boot business that he expanded to 
include Acme Brick. John Justin, Jr. oversaw the introduction of 
several popular boot styles, and, under his direction, Justin 
Industries was regularly the boot market leader. Its motto, ``The 
Standard of the West'' says it all.
  Mr. Justin was very active in the community. He was a member of the 
Fort Worth City Council from 1959 to 1961 and was mayor from 1961 to 
1963. He was longtime chairman of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. 
In the 1980s he led the drive to build the equestrian center at the 
Will Rogers complex that is now named in his honor. John Justin, Jr's 
most lasting contribution to Fort Worth will undoubtably be his drive 
to promote the city's western heritage. There is no question that he 
will be deeply missed within the Texas civic community.
  Again, my heart goes out to Mr. Justin's family and to all those who 
are grieving his passing. He gave unselfishly to the city he loved so 
much. John Justin, Jr. was a Texas icon and his contributions to our 
community will never be forgotten.

                          ____________________