[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 59 (Thursday, April 12, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     APPRECIATION FOR TOM GARY, JR.

 Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to commend Tom Gary 
of Greenwood, MS, for his distinguished service during the past year as 
president of the Delta Council.
  Delta Council is an economic development organization representing 
the business, professional, and agricultural leadership of the 18 delta 
and part-delta counties of Northwest Mississippi. Delta Council was 
organized in 1935 to help meet the challenges which confronted this 
region of our State.
  A major concern of the Mississippi Delta was the impact of 
Mississippi River and tributary flooding. Flood protection and drainage 
have severely challenged the delta region throughout its history. This 
is an area of concern where Tom Gary has distinguished himself as a 
leader. Tom took the leadership of the Delta Council Flood Control 
Committee following a serious delta flood in 1991 and led the effort to 
accelerate construction and completion of all Yazoo Basin projects. The 
1991 flood inundated more than 1.1 million acres in 15 delta towns; and 
it seriously damaged schools, roads, public facilities and cropland. 
After Gary's term as Flood Control Committee chairman, cities such as 
Greenville, the largest town in north Mississippi, received benefits 
that will provide 100-year flood protection.
  Tom serves as vice president of Delta Wildlife, chairman of the 
Leflore County Farm Service Agency Committee, commissioner and 
treasurer of the Leflore County Soil and Water Conservation Commission, 
director of the Business and Industry Political Education Committee and 
as the Cotton Board director of Farmers Supply Cooperative. He was also 
appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of the Cotton 
Board.
  Through his work with Delta Council, Tom has become a strong advocate 
and effective leader in advancing Delta Council's mission in adult 
literacy, the fight against critical teacher shortages in the primary 
and secondary school system, improved access to health care, and in 
transportation developments which are so vital to the delta region.
  I congratulate Tom Gary and his wife Moxie for the contribution they 
have made to the delta through their service in Delta Council during 
the past year.

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