[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 85 (Monday, June 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H3840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JIM TURNER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to salute one of the 
most beloved and valuable citizens in central Florida, Mr. Jim Turner, 
who is marking 30 years on the job this summer.
  It is not just any job. Jim Turner is the morning show host on AM 580 
WDBO in Orlando, one of central Florida's most important radio 
stations. When severe weather hits, when natural disasters strike, when 
terrorism comes home, the people of my district tune into Jim Turner.
  Cinderella's castle at Walt Disney World was still considered a new 
home when Jim moved to Orlando back in 1972. WDBO offered him the big 
money the work at their radio station, $200 a week.
  One of the funniest stories about Jim's tenure behind the microphone 
was told to me by his friends on WDBO's morning show, ``Officer Jim'' 
Bishop and Kirk Healy.
  Years ago, Jim Turner wanted to be the first person to wish former 
Orlando Mayor Bill Frederick a happy birthday. So at 6:30 in the 
morning, he dialed the mayor's house and got into an argument with 
Mayor Frederick's wife, who refused to wake up the mayor. As rumor has 
it, City Hall received numerous calls that morning wondering why the 
mayor's wife was so obstinate with Jim. Well, the joke was on the 
mayor. Jim had actually called his own home and had set up the whole 
bit with his wife, who impersonated Orlando's first lady.
  Nearly 30 years and 8,000 radio shows later, Jim is still doing what 
he does best, giving Orlando area listeners breaking news in a humorous 
and objective manner. His alarm clock still goes off at 2:30 in the 
morning. He still rolls into work by 4 a.m. Mr. Speaker, I would like 
to see how efficient Congress would work if we were required to start 
our business every day at 4 a.m., but I digress.
  Having been a guest of his on his program so many times, the greatest 
thing about Jim is the fact that his on-air personality is identical to 
the guy he is off the air. There is not an ounce of pretentiousness, 
only professionalism.
  When asked to reflect on his 30 years in the business, Jim recently 
said, ``You meet people and you realize they depend on you to find out 
what's going on. There's an obligation to make sure the facts are 
right, to present often-complicated things in an understandable 
fashion.''
  All of my colleagues should be so fortunate to have a man of Jim 
Turner's skill and character waking up the people of their districts 
with such a blend of information and humor.
  I wish Jim Turner a happy 30th anniversary at WDBO. I know I speak 
for all of central Florida when I say how much we look forward to the 
next 30 years.

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