[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2938-S2939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO JAMES GRIMMER

 Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to James B. 
Grimmer, a business pioneer in Birmingham, AL, and a dedicated 
community leader and family man. He was responsible for developing over 
thirty shopping centers throughout the Southeast, which helped to spur 
business and economic development in the region. Mr. Grimmer died in 
Birmingham on March 12 at the age of 81. I would like to take a few 
moments to reflect on the life of

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a man who brought opportunity to many in the Southeast and lived a life 
committed to family, friends and community.
  James Grimmer was born on March 23, 1920 and raised in East Lake, AL. 
He attended Ramsay High School and graduated from Woodlawn High in 
Birmingham. Upon finishing high school and unable to join the armed 
forces due to age restrictions, James joined the Royal Canadian Air 
Force in 1937 before he turned eighteen. However, with America's 
imminent entrance into World War II, James dutifully returned to the 
United States to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He eventually 
retired from the military as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force.
  After the war, James embarked on a long and stellar career in real 
estate development. In 1955, he joined the firm of Moulton, Allen & 
Williams. It was with this firm that he developed the Eastwood Mall, 
which was the Southeast's first enclosed mall. It had such a positive 
impact on the community that other developers soon followed James' lead 
and established numerous shopping centers in the Birmingham area. This 
led to new jobs, economic growth and was instrumental in Birmingham's 
expansion during the fifties and sixties. In 1962, James decided to 
build on his success and founded the Grimmer Realty Company. With his 
new independence, James went on to develop numerous other malls, 
including: the Western Hills Mall, the Montgomery Mall, Quintard Mall 
in Oxford, AL, and Jackson Mall in Jackson, MS. In fact, James Grimmer 
developed over eight and a half million square feet of retail space 
throughout the Southeast.
  James was also closely involved with the Birmingham community and had 
close ties to real estate developers around the nation. He enjoyed 
scouting, golfing and fishing with family and friends, and was a member 
of the Independent Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the 
International Council of Shopping Centers, The Club, Summit Club; 
Vestavia Country Club and the New York Real Estate Board.
  It is with sincere respect that I pay tribute to James Grimmer. He 
will be remembered as a pioneering businessman not only in the 
Birmingham community but the entire Southeastern region. He will be 
missed by the community as well as by his many close friends and 
relatives. My thoughts and prayers extend to his wife, Rose, children, 
Park and Susan, grandchildren, Leslie, Shelly and Jamie, and his 
sister, Evelyn Williams.

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