[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2228-E2229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING MAYOR TIM RUSSELL FOR 12 YEARS OF SERVICE AS MAYOR OF 
                             FOLEY, ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and personal pleasure 
that I rise today to honor Mayor Tim Russell for his many years of 
leadership and service to the City of Foley, not to mention all he has 
done to promote and advance the entire First Congressional District of 
Alabama.
  Mayor Russell has been a vital member of the Foley community his 
entire life. He was born and reared in Foley and is a graduate of

[[Page E2229]]

Foley High School, as well as The University of Alabama. As a young boy 
in high school and as a young man in college, he was constantly looking 
for ways to serve those around him. This has been a characteristic and 
quality that he has carried with him all his life; not a day has passed 
since he became Mayor of Foley that he wasn't working to make his 
hometown a better place to live.
  Mayor Russell is also a veteran, having served his country in the 
Vietnam War where he was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal. Mr. 
Speaker, I know of no one who is more patriotic or loves his country 
more than Tim Russell.
  Tim and his lovely wife, Sandy, are the proud parents of two 
outstanding sons, Kevin and Kenton, a beautiful daughter, Karen, and a 
very handsome new grandson, Timothy. Not only has he been a wonderful 
father and husband, but Tim Russell is a great role model and someone 
we all respect.
  Throughout his illustrious 12 years as mayor, Tim has been a 
dedicated, faithful public servant. In fact, if you were to look up the 
definition of a ``servant leader'' in Webster's Dictionary, you would 
very likely see Tim Russell's picture.
  His list of accomplishments is long enough to fill an entire volume 
of the Congressional Record. Among the highlights, he was the person 
most responsible for developing the main hurricane evacuation route 
away from South Alabama's beaches during a time of emergency. Today, 
this heavily-traveled highway is known around the state and throughout 
the Southeast as the ``Foley Beach Express.''
  He also provided crucial leadership to the people of Foley in the 
immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. Tim's experience and guidance 
proved crucial to the entire region, especially during the rebuilding 
process that followed this devastating storm. Because of his steady 
hand, the recovery in South Baldwin County was much better than 
expected.
  Mayor Russell also played a lead role in helping to develop what is 
now known as the Tanger Outlet Mall in Foley. This retail center is one 
of the largest attractions in the entire state of Alabama. In addition 
to being one of the area's largest employers, the Tanger Outlet Mall in 
Foley provides one of the largest streams of revenue to the entire 
state.
  Last month, Mayor Russell chose to resign from the office of mayor--
an office he so dearly loved--in order to better serve the people of 
South Alabama in the wake of an insurance crisis following three major 
hurricane seasons throughout the central Gulf Coast. Tim returns to his 
position as president of Baldwin Mutual Insurance Company, where he is 
fast becoming one of the leading experts in the nation on affordable 
and accessible insurance coverage. He resigned the office of mayor so 
as to not even suggest at a possible conflict of interest; that is 
simply the kind of man he is.
  Tim's lifetime of service has certainly not gone unnoticed. He has 
been recognized by Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Outstanding 
Young Men of America, Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, 
the 1991 Free Enterprise Person of the Year, Who's Who in the World, 
and the Sam Walton Leadership Award. He has also been commended by the 
U.S. Senate and received the NAMIC Service Award.
  Mr. Speaker, the faithful service of outstanding Americans like Mayor 
Tim Russell has aided in an immeasurable way to the wellbeing of our 
community. I would like to offer my congratulations to Tim for his many 
personal and professional achievements and offer a heartfelt ``thank 
you'' for a job well done.
  I know his family and many friends join with me in honoring his 
accomplishments and extending thanks for his many efforts on behalf of 
the people of Foley and the entire State of Alabama.

                          ____________________