[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 59 (Friday, May 10, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING THE INVALUABLE PUBLIC SERVICE OF MR. JIM CROW

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. TANNER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 9, 2002

  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of my dear friend Jim 
Crow, whose hard work has proven invaluable, not only to the people of 
Shelby County and Tennessee's 8th District, but also to the state of 
Tennessee and indeed the nation. I have had the pleasure of working 
alongside Jim since before I came to Washington back in 1989. His 
public service stretches back even farther than that.
  Jim was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1934. His father being in 
construction, the family moved where the work was--from Memphis to 
Ohio, then to Michigan. After also living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 
Jim moved back to Shelby County in 1959 and married Shirley Roberts the 
following year. They bought a house in Frayser, where their family saw 
the addition of two children, Elizabeth--now Elizabeth Vaughn--and 
James. The family relocated to Millington, Tennessee, in 1975.
  Jim is retired from International Harvester, where he worked for 26 
years and served as a union steward for the United Auto Workers. It was 
during this time that he became active in politics and the Shelby 
County Democratic Party.
  In 1969, Jim was instrumental in helping bring my predecessor, Mr. Ed 
Jones, to this House of Representatives. Jim helped establish the first 
Congressional office in Shelby County for the 8th District and operated 
the office on a voluntary basis. Five years later, Mr. Jones hired Jim 
Crow as a field representative for Memphis and Shelby County. When I 
came to Washington 15 years after that, I was lucky to have Jim stay on 
board as a field representative, the position from which he is now 
retiring.
  Jim has always been very active in the community, serving in such 
organizations as the Millington Industrial Development Board, the 
Millington Airport Authority, the Frayser Exchange Club, the Navy 
League and the Millington Chamber of Commerce, which once named him Man 
of the Year.
  Millington was formerly home of the Navy Air Technical Training 
Center, but during the base restructuring in the early 1990s, that 
function was moved elsewhere. Jim, with his involvement in the 
community and on the base, followed the base's transition as it became 
known as Naval Support Activity Mid-South, currently housing the Navy 
Bureau of Personnel. As field representative, Jim was active in the 
communication involved with the change.
  Later this month, he will retire his position as a field 
representative for the 8th Congressional District. He will spend more 
time with his family, including his grandchildren, Kali and Nicholas, 
and I am certain he will continue to stay active in our community.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask that you and our colleagues recognize the 
outstanding, selfless public service Jim has offered over the years. 
All the best wishes are with my friend Jim Crow as he begins an 
exciting new chapter in his life.




                          ____________________