[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 51 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4558-S4559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DASCHLE (for Mr. Edwards):
  S. 743. A bill to designate a building that houses the operations of 
the University Park United States Postal Service in Charlotte, North 
Carolina, as the ``Jim Richardson Post Office Building''; to the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the ``James F. 
Richardson Post Office Act of 2003.'' This measure would name the 
University Park Post Office in Charlotte, NC, after a man who has come 
to mean so much to the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the 
State of North Carolina. His record of public service goes back 60 
years.
  A Charlotte native, Jim Richardson graduated from Second War High 
School, the only high school in the area African Americans were allowed 
to attend. In a separate and unequal society he learned early on the 
importance of character and serving the public good. Our World War II 
veterans are said to be the greatest generation. As part of that 
generation Jim Richardson entered the United States Navy and served our 
country honorably in the South Pacific theater during World War II. It 
is with character and a deep

[[Page S4559]]

and abiding hope for a better future that a man such as Jim Richardson 
fought for his country only to return to a society that did not afford 
all that was allowed them under the Constitution of the United States.
  After the war, Jim returned to Charlotte and entered Johnson C. Smith 
University. He graduated with a degree in Physical Education and 
minored in General Sciences. His Post Office career began in 1949 as a 
postal clerk in Charlotte. With the railroads still being the dominant 
form of transporting the mail, Jim transferred to the Railway Postal 
Service. When he returned to the Charlotte Post Office years later he 
had risen through the ranks to having held several supervisory 
positions. With 33 years of service in the Federal Government, he 
retirement as the US Postmaster in Mt. Holly, NC.
  Now, that would be a full career for most individuals. What I have 
not mentioned is that Jim Richardson was an elected official having 
served distinguishably in both the North Carolina State House and State 
Senate. It was here that this man whose family taught him the mantra 
``do good for others and goodness will return to you'' continued his 
advocacy for those who needed it most. These were often the poor, 
minorities and the elderly. Jim's legislative record reflected his 
life's experiences. When he retired from the State Senate, he was a 
role model for elected officials of both parties. I include myself as 
being one who looks to Jim Richardson not on the issues of the day, but 
on the manner in which we conduct ourselves in the daily business of 
serving the people who elected us.
  Again, you would think this would be enough public service for most 
people. Not for Jim. He returned from the State Legislature to 
Charlotte and was elected as a Mecklenburg County Commissioner. I came 
to know him during this his third career. When I called on him for 
advice and counsel, he opened the wealth of his life's experiences to 
me. He also opened his home where I stayed during my campaign for the 
Senate seat. I learned from the man and about him. He and his wife Mary 
are revered for so many of their contributions to the community. Chief 
among them is their work on HIV/AIDS awareness among young people. 
Their hope is to save lives and spare families the experience of losing 
a loved one to this dreaded disease.
  There being no objection the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 743

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF JIM RICHARDSON POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       The building that houses operations of the University Park 
     United States Postal Service, located at 2127 Beattys Ford 
     Road, in Charlotte, North Carolina (or any other building to 
     which the University Park United States Postal Service may 
     relocate after the date of enactment of this Act), shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Jim Richardson Post Office 
     Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the annex to the 
     building referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the Jim Richardson Post Office Building.
                                 ______