[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 129 (Wednesday, November 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2061-E2062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING JEROLD L. HARRIS OF WICHITA, KANSAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 15, 2006

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jerold L. 
Harris of Wichita, Kansas. Jerold has served rural America for 43 years 
in his role with the Farm Credit System. American agriculture will miss 
this good friend come January when he plans to retire.
  Jerold grew up on a farm near Denby, South Dakota, and later attended 
high school in Gordon, Nebraska. After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in 
Agricultural Business from Colorado State University in 1963, he went 
to work for the Farm Credit System, where his positive leadership 
helped people work together. Jerold embodies a statement he often 
quotes ``There is no limit to progress when people work together.''
  During Jerold's 43 years of service, one accomplishment truly stands 
out. The Western Farm Credit Bank in Sacramento, California entered 
into a joint management agreement with the Farm Credit Bank of Wichita 
in January 2002. The Board of Directors named Jerold as President and 
Chief Executive Officer. Under this agreement, Jerold combined the 
operations of these two banks while developing and implementing a 
strategy to merge the two banks and form a new bank, U.S. AgBank, FCB, 
which would be headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.
  The 1980s were a difficult decade for American agriculture. During 
part of this time Jerold was the Chief Executive Officer of the jointly 
managed Ninth District Federal Land Bank Association and the Ninth 
District Production Credit Association that served four states. Even in 
those difficult times, Jerold was able to bring people together, under 
a common objective, to produce results.
  During his long and distinguished career, Jerold held numerous 
leadership positions within the Farm Credit System. He has served as a 
loan officer, an appraiser, a supervisor and a manager, a follower and 
a leader, but always with the same dedication and achievement.
  Jerold has also provided distinguished service at the national level, 
serving 15 years as a member of the Farm Credit System Presidents 
Planning Committee, during three of which he served as Chairman. Jerold 
also served 11 years on the Board of Directors of the Federal Farm 
Credit Banks Funding Corporation, with three of those years as 
Chairman. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the National 
Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) and is a member of the NCFC 
Executive Council.
  Jerold is also a familiar face here in Washington, DC. He has 
represented the Farm Credit System by testifying before both the House 
and Senate Agriculture Committees on numerous occasions, and always 
demonstrated a deep understanding of the issues and provided excellent 
input on the decisions facing congressional committees.
  Jerold's honesty and integrity, keen intelligence, and an 
understanding of people has won him respect from his peers, workers, 
and the farmers and ranchers he has represented and served. His 
accomplishments speak volumes about his dedication to agriculture. He

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has worked tirelessly to improve agriculture and rural America, and his 
leadership will be truly missed.
  It is a great pleasure for me to share his impressive record of 
service with my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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