[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 86 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1337]]
          A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HONORABLE JAMES JARRELL PICKLE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2005

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay 
tribute to my good friend, J.J. Pickle. Those of us who have the 
tremendous honor of serving in this great institution sometimes fail to 
see the giants that serve among us. Certainly J.J. Pickle was one of 
those giants.
  He was born in Big Spring, Texas on October 11, 1913 and was educated 
in the public schools. He was a man who was clearly a leader, not only 
of the people of the State of Texas, of the district that he 
represented in the central part of Texas, but of this entire Nation.
  He was a man who gave his heart, literally, to this country. He 
poured hours after hours into trying to grapple with the important 
issues we faced as a Nation, and he did it because he loved this 
country. He was truly a public servant who cared about the people in 
the State of Texas, and cared about the people in this great country.
  It is rare that we see people in this institution who worked as hard 
as J.J. Pickle. However, in doing so, he was always able to retain his 
touch of the common man. As much as he accomplished academically and 
through the higher ranks of government in this country, he never lost 
the ability to relate to people on a day-to-day level. To me he will 
always be Jake, the fellow who would put his arm around you, smile and 
joke, and ask how things were going. He was a man who cared about you 
as an individual and cared about people.
  He loved high-powered debates with intellectuals, but he never put on 
airs. He was one of only seven southern representatives to vote for the 
1964 Civil Rights Act legislation. He believed that his most 
significant accomplishment as a lawmaker was the 1983 Social Security 
reform bill, which he helped pass as chairman of the Social Security 
subcommittee. That legislation eased Social Security's financial 
problems by raising the age for full benefits from 65 to 67 in the year 
2000. He could talk to farmers and mechanics as easily as Presidents 
such as from his mentor, President Johnson and other leaders. It is no 
wonder the voters of Central Texas kept Jake in Congress for 31 years. 
They knew a good man when they saw him. They, and all Americans, have 
lost someone very special.

                          ____________________