[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E39]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF MYERS PARSONS

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                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 29, 2002

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
contributions that my cousin, Myers Browning Parsons Sr., has made to 
the Rutherford County community.
  Mr. Parsons grew up in Rutherford County, as did I, and has spent 
most of his life giving back to the community that has given so much to 
him and his family. Fortunately, I lived near Mr. Parsons, grew up with 
his children and considered him a second father. A graduate of 
Christiana High School, Mr. Parsons excelled in basketball and football 
while attending the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he 
received the university's Athletic Award.
  The World War II veteran has been a teacher, farmer and business 
owner, prospering in all three vocations. He also has been actively 
involved in many of the community's civic boards and organizations. Mr. 
Parsons has served on the Rutherford County Board of Education, the 
Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the 
Christy-Houston Foundation Board of Directors. He has coached Little 
League baseball, as well, and is a member of the Kiwanis Club.
  For the past 26 years, Mr. Parsons has served as a Rutherford County 
road commissioner. And he is the chairman of the Rutherford County 
Equalization Tax Board, representing my hometown of Murfreesboro. This 
past year he served as the chairman of the Building Committee of the 
Oaklands Historic House Museum. He is also a member of the University 
of Tennessee's Institute of Agriculture Development Board.
  Constantly striving to help his fellow man, Mr. Parsons has never 
shirked civic responsibility, even while recovering from lung cancer 
and a serious heart attack, He now pays close attention to his health 
and emphasizes the importance of receiving good health care and 
participating in a quality physical fitness program. As a tribute to 
his amazing fortitude, the Rutherford County Chapter of the American 
Heart Association will honor Mr. Parsons on Saturday, February 9, 
during this year's Heart Ball. I congratulate Mr. Parsons for his 
unselfish and untiring service to his community and the motivation he 
has stirred in others.

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