[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 116 (Monday, September 10, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H5473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO THE REVEREND DR. JAMES FORD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a former 
Minnesotan who devoted his life to ministering to others and who made a 
huge difference in the lives of the people in this very House for over 
2 decades. For 21 years, the House of Representatives was very well 
served by our dedicated and beloved chaplain, the Reverend Dr. James 
Ford. Seven days a week, year after year, Jim Ford was here for us and 
our families in times of deepest need. Jim was always here to 
encourage, console, humor, and inspire us. That is why all of us were 
terribly shocked and saddened to hear of his death on August 27. Our 
thoughts and prayers are with his family: his wife, Marcy; son, Peter; 
daughters, Julie, Marie, Molly and Sarah; sister, Janet; 9 
grandchildren; and countless friends all over the world.
  So many memories come flooding back at a time like this. Jim Ford 
leaves a legacy of love and service for his family, friends, and Nation 
which will be remembered always. His eloquent well-chosen words and 
ever-present wit helped keep our focus on what was truly important: 
working together to serve people.

                              {time}  1845

  Also Jim Ford taught us to take our job seriously, but not ourselves. 
Which Norwegian or Swede among us will ever forget Jim's endless litany 
of Ole and Sven stories.
  Madam Speaker, we all remember the countless tributes that were 
directed at Jim Ford as he marked his well-deserved retirement 2 years 
ago. Jim's many distinguished years of service to the United States 
Military Academy, 19 to be exact, and his earlier years at Ivanhoe 
Lutheran Church at Ivanhoe, Minnesota, are well known and well 
documented.
  What is not so well known are Jim Ford's very early years in 
Minnesota and his legendary escapades as a young ski jumper at Theodore 
Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Let the record reflect that our former 
beloved Chaplain, Dr. Jim Ford, still holds the record jump at the 
famous Theodore Wirth Ski jump, backward.
  That is right, when he was a young student at Edison High School in 
northeast Minneapolis, Jim Ford defied the laws of gravity and common 
sense and survived a backward jump on this notoriously steep ski slope 
and lived to tell about it.
  We now know backward ski jumping was just the beginning of Jim Ford's 
high-risk hobbies. From his beloved Harley to his ultralight aircraft, 
Jim lived life with a special zeal. Whether it was his frequent 
racquetball games in the House gym or a cross-country ride on his 
Harley, Jim Ford went for all the gusto.
  Madam Speaker, they still talk proudly about their prominent alumnus, 
Jim Ford, at Edison High School in northeast Minneapolis and Gustavus 
Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, where Jim starred in the 
classroom and also on the athletic field.
  ``You can take Jim Ford from Minnesota, but you cannot take Minnesota 
from Jim Ford,'' was how his Gustavus classmate, the Reverend Bill 
Albertson, put it. Some of us remember my good friend and former 
minister, Bill Albertson, served as our guest chaplain here several 
years ago. Jim and Bill had a great time reminiscing that day. I will 
never forget our time together.
  On behalf of all Minnesotans, Madam Speaker, we salute the memory of 
the Reverend Dr. Jim Ford and his many accomplishments. He was always 
there for us in good times, in hard times, in times of joy, in times of 
sorrow. We thank the Lord for his prayers, his counsel, great wit, 
compassion, and service.
  We also thank God for the way Reverend Ford cared so deeply about our 
families, our friends, our constituents, our House of Representatives, 
and our beloved country. Madam Speaker, we will always be grateful for 
Reverend Jim Ford's work and for the way he brought Democrats, 
Republicans, and Independents together for the good of our great 
Nation.
  Jim Ford, I know you are in heaven right now, probably telling Ole 
and Sven jokes. May God bless you always, just as your work here in the 
House of Representatives blessed all of us. May your great legacy of 
service continue to inspire all of us who are lucky enough to be your 
friends.
  Chaplain Jim Ford might be gone, but his spirit will live forever.

                          ____________________