[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E769]]


                 IN MEMORY OF COLONEL AUSTIN CAPPS SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 18, 2007

  Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of my dear 
friend Colonel Austin Capps Sr. of Gurdon, Arkansas, who passed away 
April 14, 2007.
  Colonel Capps was a leader and an inspiration to many throughout his 
years of service to his community and to the state of Arkansas. His 
dedicated commitment to making his beloved town of Gurdon and his state 
a better place to live was evident in everything he did.
  Colonel Capps was a lifelong resident of Clark County and graduate of 
Ouachita Baptist University. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a 
2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army where he served during World War II in 
North Africa, Italy, and France. After the war, he returned to Gurdon 
where he continued serving his country by enlisting with the U.S. Army 
Reserves.
  Colonel Capps' diligence to duty and service to those around him 
carried over into his business, Austin's Appliance and Furniture, which 
he operated in Gurdon for over 70 years. Due to his decades of hard 
work and commitment to improving the lives of Gurdon residents, I often 
thought of him as ``Mr. Gurdon.''
  Colonel Capps was a devoted, lifelong member of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Gurdon where he served as an elder, Sunday 
School teacher, and member of the choir. He was a man of strong faith 
that was evident in all he did. He also served as member of the Board 
of Trustees of Baptist Hospital in Arkadelphia and as a faithful 
Gideon.
  I send my deepest condolences to his two sons Colonel James Capps, 
Jr. of Hot Springs, AR, and William Roy Capps, of Gurdon, AR, to his 
two sisters Louise Mann of Houston, TX, and Alyene Fowler of Ft. Scott, 
KS; and to his seven grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren who 
affectionately called him ``Big Daddy.''
  Colonel Capps will be missed by his family, his church, his 
community, and all those who knew him and called him a friend. I will 
continue to keep his family in my thoughts and prayers.

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