[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 90 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REMEMBERING DR. J.W. REMKE, JR., GENEROUS AND DEDICATED COMMMUNITY 
                                 LEADER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM COOPER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 2004

  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dr. J.W. 
Remke, Jr. of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Dr. Remke was a dedicated 
community leader, a distinguished optometrist and businessman admired 
throughout Tennessee for his willingness to help others. Dr. Remke was 
always happy to use his time and his energies to build a better life 
for his community and its families.
  Joe Remke knew early in life what he wanted to do and where he wanted 
to live. After graduating from the University of Tennessee and the 
Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, he returned to his hometown 
of Lawrenceburg and soon opened his own business, the Remke Eye Clinic. 
For the next 50 years, Dr. Remke could be found helping his friends and 
neighbors see better--in Lawrenceburg, Waynesboro, Hohenwald or 
Lewisburg, even a few politicians in Nashville and Washington, D.C. For 
Dr. Remke, work was a joy, more a hobby than anything else, and 
something he looked forward to. Even at the age of 79, Dr. Remke saw 
patients every day, right up until the time of his brief illness.
  Dr. Remke's commitment to his patients was truly outstanding--just 
like his commitment to his community. He was a founder of the 21st 
Century Council, the first economic and community development 
organization in Lawrence County. Thanks to his leadership, major 
employers including the Jones Apparel Group soon established operations 
in the area. I don't know of any community leader in Tennessee who has 
done more to attract industry to his community. Whenever there was a 
local need, Joe Remke gave generously. He had served as President of 
the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, as Chairman of the 
Lawrenceburg Power Board and as president of the Lawrenceburg Lions 
Club. Dr. Remke, along with his late wife, Peggy Jo Remke, were equally 
dedicated to supporting the activities of their church, Lawrenceburg's 
Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
  Even with all of his work with community organizations and local 
businesses, Dr. Remke was perhaps celebrated most for his generous 
spirit and wise counsel. I benefited tremendously from such advice when 
he was kind enough to help me in my earliest campaigns. Whether it was 
a new business idea that needed help or just a relaxed visit with an 
old friend, folks from Lawrence County to Nashville, Memphis, and 
Knoxville always knew they'd find the support and guidance they were 
looking for in a chat with Dr. Remke.
  On behalf of his many friends in the Fifth District of Tennessee, I 
send my deepest condolences to Dr. Joe Remke's wonderful family.

                          ____________________