[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 42 (Wednesday, April 5, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1485-H1486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MAYOR JOHN THOMPSON ``TOM'' GARRISON MEMORIAL POST OFFICE

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 4688) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 1 Boyden Street in Badin, North Carolina, as 
the ``Mayor John Thompson `Tom' Garrison Memorial Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4688

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

     SECTION 1. MAYOR JOHN THOMPSON ``TOM'' GARRISON MEMORIAL POST 
                   OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1 Boyden Street in Badin, North Carolina, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Mayor John Thompson 
     `Tom' Garrison Memorial Post Office''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Mayor John Thompson `Tom' Garrison 
     Memorial Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4688 offered by the 
distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes). This bill 
would designate the postal facility in Badin, North Carolina, as the 
``Mayor John Thompson `Tom' Garrison Memorial Post Office.''
  Tom Garrison was born on May 25, 1925. He was educated at Badin High 
School and completed his postgraduate work at Staunton Military 
Academy. In September of 1943, Mr. Garrison entered the Army and played 
an active role in the European Theater of Operations for 22 months. He 
received a battlefield commission and was decorated with the Silver 
Star and other honors.
  After returning home, Mr. Garrison married and graduated from the 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also served stateside 
in the Korean conflict and retired after 20 years with the North 
Carolina National Guard. With the conclusion of his military career, 
Tom Garrison became an active member in his community of Badin, serving 
as the town's mayor for over 10 years. He was also a member of the 
First Baptist Church, in which he served in many capacities, as well as 
being involved in the Rotary Club, the Troop Committee of Boy Scout 
Troop 82, and a member of the board of the Badin Museum and the Better 
Badin Committee.
  I urge all members to come together to honor a man that promoted 
excellence in government and community by passing H.R. 4688.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I 
am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4688, 
legislation naming a postal facility in Badin, North Carolina after the 
late John Thompson Garrison. This measure, which was introduced by 
Representative Robin Hayes on February 1, 2006 and unanimously reported 
by our committee on March 9, 2006, enjoys the support and cosponsorship 
of the entire North Carolina delegation.
  Tom Garrison was born and raised in Badin. He served in the U.S. Army 
in World War II and returned to his hometown to settle into the 
insurance and real estate business. Active in his church, community and 
numerous local civic organizations, Tom served as mayor of Badin from 
1990 until his death last year at the age of 80.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to recognize Mayor 
Tom Garrison and honor his memory in this manner.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume 
to my distinguished colleague from the State of North Carolina (Mr. 
Hayes).
  Mr. HAYES. I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) for 
yielding the time. And I want to thank my good friend, Danny Davis, for 
his kind and most appropriate words about this outstanding and 
honorable gentleman, Mr. John T. Garrison, Sr.

[[Page H1486]]

  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4688 honors Mayor John T. Garrison, Sr., a good 
friend and wonderful leader known to his friends and family as simply 
Tom. Tom served as mayor of Badin from the town's incorporation in 1990 
until his passing last October. Tom's 15 years of honorable service as 
mayor of Badin represented merely a small fraction of his career in 
public service.
  Whether it was in the European theater in the Army during World War 
II where he distinguished himself among his peers earning a battlefield 
commission and numerous commendations including a Silver Star, or 
working with volunteer organizations in Stanley County, including among 
others, an active member of the Committee of Boy Scout Troop 82, 
serving as president of his local Rotary Chapter in Albemarle, or 
serving on the Badin Museum and Better Badin Committee, Tom never 
hesitated to selflessly give his time and talents to causes that 
bettered his community.
  We can all look at these accomplishments and know he had lived a full 
and complete life. In addition to Tom's impressive record of public 
service, he was a successful professional in real estate and insurance.
  Most important in Tom's life was his family. He was married to his 
wife, Anne, until her passing, and together they raised three children, 
Ellen, John, Jr., and Lenora.
  Mr. Speaker, Tom Garrison embodies the great American pride and 
spirit we all desire. He worked tirelessly with his twin brother, Jim, 
who was very active in State and local politics in efforts to create 
hope, opportunity and prosperity for the people in the region, the 
State and the country.
  I am proud to call Tom a friend and am grateful I had the opportunity 
to have him also as a neighbor. Tom, like many other champions around 
the Nation, did not seek public accolades for his efforts. He simply 
wanted to make the lives of the people in his community the best they 
could be. The current mayor of Badin, Jim Harrison, put it well when he 
said, ``Tom was one who could build you up, and no matter how small the 
task or responsibility, he would make you feel very good about yourself 
and your importance to the Badin community. It was one of this life's 
many blessings to have known Tom Garrison.''
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in saluting this dedicated 
and honorable man by passing H.R. 4688.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of H.R. 4688. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shaw). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4688.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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