[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E140]]
                       TRIBUTE TO MR. FRED GADDIS

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 12, 2002

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute 
to Mr. Fred Gaddis, Sr., a former businessman and mayor of Forest, MS. 
Mr. Gaddis was beloved by the citizens in his community for his vision 
and dedication to improving the quality of life for all those around 
him. His death was devastating to those who knew him and certainly 
affected the town of Forest and Scott County.
  Mr. Gaddis attended both Mississippi State University (MSU) and the 
University of Southern Mississippi (USM). At MSU, he was a classmate of 
our beloved 3rd District Congressman G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery. He left 
USM to serve our country in the Navy during World War II as a pilot. 
After his service to the Nation, he returned to Forest and Scott County 
where he began his legacy as a pioneer in the poultry industry. He 
started his first poultry plant with under $1,700 and then built Gaddis 
Industries, which included 38 poultry farms and several other farming 
industries. His vision has helped make Scott County the fifth-largest 
poultry-producing county in America.
  He has been recognized at State, national, and world levels for his 
work in the poultry industry. He even represented the United States 
Government at the World's Food Fair in Tokyo and Hong Kong. For his 
pioneering efforts and success in the poultry industry, his picture 
hangs today in the Mississippi State University Poultry Hall of Fame, 
and in the Mississippi Agricultural Museum in Jackson.
  Besides being a successful and visionary businessman, Mr. Gaddis 
served the city of Forest as mayor for 32 years where his mission was 
always serving the people. He fulfilled his mission by improving the 
quality of life for those in Forest and Scott County. During his tenure 
as mayor, a new community center, library, fire station, airport, 
coliseum, and city hall were built. He also personally bought a bus for 
the school system when they could not afford it, and paid for lunches 
out of his own resources for the students in the Forest schools before 
the Federal lunch program was established. As a tribute to his many 
contributions one of the city parks in Forest is named for him.
  Mr. Gaddis was particularly active in community and religious 
activities. He served as a deacon at Forest Baptist Church, and 
sponsored the building and furnishing of a cottage in the Baptist 
Children's Village in Clinton, that houses 14 boys. He is the recipient 
of the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts and the Troop 63 Eagle 
Class is named in his honor. Mr. Gaddis is also a Mason and past 
president of the Lions Club.
  Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Mary (better known as 
``Tweency''), sons Michael and David, daughter Beverly, two sisters, 12 
grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. The citizens of Forest and 
Scott County will sorely miss him.
  Fred Gaddis's resume may span several pages for his successful 
business, and his vision as a mayor for Forest and service to his 
community. However, the legacy he leaves behind cannot fully be 
expressed by what he did, but rather by the people he touched and the 
way he lived his life. He had a deep love for God, family, friends, and 
community. I extend my sympathy to his family and all those in Scott 
County who have been affected by this loss. I am very appreciative of 
Mr. Gaddis's legacy, and am hopeful that it will encourage others to 
follow in his footsteps of public service for a better community and 
concern for others.

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