[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E440-E441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO PAUL AND NADINE SHIRLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 2003

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, as Members of Congress, each of us has the 
privilege of representing countless numbers of constituents who work 
tirelessly to make their communities better. We meet these remarkable 
men and women every day, but often do not have the opportunity to 
highlight their contributions before the Nation.
  Paul Shirley of Knoxville, Tennessee, is one such person, as was his 
late wife, Nadine. For more than 57 years of marriage this remarkable 
couple lived a life committed to sharing God's love with all those 
around them.
  In November of last year, Nadine went to be with the Lord, but the 
example they set continues to be a standard matched by very few. Paul's 
dedication to changing lives around him has not slowed with Nadine's 
passing, and I know she is proud of his perseverance.
  After graduating from the University of Tennessee in Business 
Administration, Paul began a career in the construction industry that 
continues today. From the very beginning Nadine played a key role in 
their business success.
  Paul served as president of the Home Builder's Association of Greater 
Knoxville in 1962. He presently serves on the Board of Adjustments and 
Appeals for the City of Knoxville, a position he has held for 30 years. 
At each point of his professional career, Paul has always displayed the 
highest level of integrity and commitment to excellence.

  It is, however, in the Shirleys' work together outside the business 
world that they found their most meaningful success. For almost 35 
years, Paul and Nadine tirelessly worked to provide hundreds of 
children in the Knoxville area with a biblically based education 
surpassed academically only by the Christ-like love shown to each 
student.
  In 1969, they, together with a dedicated group of parents, opened 
what was then known as West End Kindergarten. This soon expanded to 
become Knoxville Christian School and in 1975, the Shirleys donated 67 
acres of land for what was to be the permanent campus of this growing 
school. Today, Knoxville Christian School provides a biblically based 
education to 108 students from Kindergarten through the ninth grade.
  Paul served as president of the school until 1979, and both he and 
Nadine gave many years of service on the school's board of directors. 
Paul and Nadine's work, however, went far beyond what any job title 
implies, and their compassionate dedication to every child reached far 
beyond the classroom.
  On February 20, 2003, those close to Knoxville Christian School came 
together to show their appreciation to Paul and to share in their 
memories of Nadine. As a small token of thanks for the impact this 
couple had on so many lives, Paul was presented with the

[[Page E441]]

``Christian Service Award.'' To those of us who attended this moving 
event, it was obvious that every person there was richer for having 
known this tremendous couple.
  I am proud to call Paul my friend, and I share with him in the grief 
he feels with the passing of Nadine. I also deeply appreciate the 
unwavering life of service they led together. I know that Knoxville is 
a better community because of the love they shared and the example they 
set.
  As I said at the beginning of these remarks, each of us in Congress 
has the chance to meet and know many remarkable people. I thank you for 
the opportunity to introduce you to just such a couple.

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