[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 76 (Thursday, June 3, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S6445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO JIM AYERS

 Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I wish to honor the 
extraordinary efforts of one man who exemplifies the spirit which makes 
Tennessee the volunteer state.
  That man is Jim Ayers of Parsons, TN. Parsons sits at the 
intersection of Highway 412 and 69, just west of the banks of the 
Tennessee River. It is the largest town in rural Decatur County. At 18, 
Jim left home to attend Memphis State University. Working 30 hours a 
week, he paid his way through college, graduating with a degree in 
business administration. Jim was the first in his family to earn a 
college degree. He went on to success in a number of industries--from 
banking and real estate to manufacturing and health care.
  Many American success stories would end right there. For Jim, this 
was just the beginning.
  In 1999 Decatur's Riverside High School graduated 129 students and 
sent 36 on to post-secondary education. That's 27 percent. This month 
101 of 111, 90 percent, of students graduating from Riverside, will go 
on to 2 and 4-year colleges and universities.
  The difference between 1999 and 2004? Jim Ayers.
  You see, Jim realized the opportunities he had because his parents 
had motivated him to further his education. To perpetuate this 
encouragement, Jim created the Ayers Foundation Scholars Program. The 
program supplies counselors to assist every student with college 
counseling and planning and grants renewable scholarships of up to 
$4,000 to any Decatur County student who wants to go on to college.
  This year Jim's foundation disbursed $578,000 to more than 300 young 
men and women attending 13 different schools. To meet any remaining 
tuition bills, counselors found an additional $800,000 in Federal and 
State grants and other scholarships. Since its inception, the 
foundation has also spent in excess of $175,000 to help 68 teachers 
from Decatur and Henderson counties to obtain masters degrees or plus 
30 certification.
  Last week at a dinner in honor of this first class of Ayers' 
foundation graduates, Jim announced the foundation will begin funding 
scholarships for students at Henderson County's Scotts Hill High 
School. In addition, Jim committed to extend funding for advanced 
degrees for teachers in Perry County.
  Decatur's favorite son came home to make this a place where the 
American dream thrives.
  Mr. President, I have spent a lot of time thinking about leadership, 
character, and education. Men like Jim serve as examples to us all of 
the opportunity education provides and the difference one man can make 
in the fabric of the American character.
  Thank you for allowing me to honor my friend Jim Ayers.

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