[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE MEMORY OF MR. PORTER EDWARD TAIT, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2007

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Camden and indeed the entire 
State of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor 
him and pay tribute to his memory.
  Mr. Porter Tait, Jr., a devoted family man, was dedicated to the 
continued growth and prosperity of Camden. A U.S. Army veteran, he 
served in World War II and the Korean war and worked for International 
Paper for over 20 years.
  A life long resident of Wilcox County, Porter was a member of Camden 
Baptist Church and a member of the BYKOTA Sunday School Class. A master 
Mason, Porter was a member of the Dale Lodge #25 for 55 years. He was 
also a Shriner, a member of the Alcazar Temple in Montgomery, the 
American Legion Post 84, and the Selma Elks Lodge.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a 
dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout Alabama. Mr. 
Porter Tait, Jr. will be deeply missed by his family--his wife of 51 
years, Lula Lee Ray Tait; his two sons, Porter Edward Tait III, and 
Timothy Ray Tait; his one daughter, Dr. Margaret Tait Moore; his four 
sisters, Martha Jones, Pauline T. D'Alessio, Laura Carr, and Doris 
Locklin; and his six grandchildren--as well as the countless friends he 
leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this 
difficult time.
  In addition to my statement, I ask that an accompanying article from 
the Wilcox Progressive Era, written by its longtime publisher, M. 
Hollis Curl, be included in this tribute to Porter Tait. May he rest in 
peace.

       Family and friends gathered yesterday at the Camden Baptist 
     Church to eulogize Porter Tait before driving on down to 
     Reaves Chapel Baptist Church for Masonic services at 
     graveside.
       Porter died late Sunday afternoon at J. Paul Jones Hospital 
     where he had been a patient for several days. Members of his 
     loving family were at his bedside; anguished at his leaving 
     them but relieved that his suffering was over.
       I first came to know Porter Tait in the late 1960's; just a 
     few years before a serious stroke left him substantially 
     disabled. His two sons, Ted and Tim were classmates of my 
     son, Mark, and daughter, Julie. His daughter Meg came along a 
     bit later and we all marveled at her superior intellect as 
     she breezed through college at Auburn before graduating from 
     medical school in Birmingham. She--along with her brothers--
     was a source of great pride to Porter and his wife, Lula Lee.
       Actually, there was a ``family'' bond of sorts between 
     Porter and me. We shared a grandson, Tyler Tait, who was born 
     to Julie and Ted. They eventually went their separate ways 
     but have remained friends over the years.
       But I digress. This is not about family, nor friends, nor 
     relationships. It is about a man who was loved and respected 
     by all who knew him.
       The stroke which left Porter unable to work forced him to 
     get about on unsteady legs and, as the years went by, to 
     limit his speech somewhat. But he never gave up.
       For quite a few years Porter made his usual rounds about 
     Camden in a little VW bug which he eventually abandoned in 
     favor of a small pickup truck. Those two vehicles were seen 
     almost daily at the business places of friends he had known 
     all his life.
       One of his favorite activities was helping as best he could 
     with barbecue cooking at the drive-in which his son Ted sold 
     to Travis Durant who sold it to Larry Gaston. Porter knew 
     just what it took to turn out mouthwatering barbecue spiced 
     with his own brand of tale-telling around the fire.
       Most younger folks in Camden probably didn't know Porter 
     Tait. His disability had kept him close to home on McWilliams 
     Avenue just across from the hospital. That is unfortunate 
     because Porter Tait was the sort of fellow who could impart 
     great life lessons drawn from his 79 years of life.
       It is also important to note that Porter Tait was a devout, 
     born-again Christian who read his Bible every day. He knew 
     the message Jesus gave us and he incorporated those beliefs 
     into his life and his relationships with those who visited 
     him as he grew increasingly home-bound.
       Come to think of it, when it came to living a Christ-like 
     life I never saw anything in Porter's life to diminish my 
     respect for him.
       He played out his life with the hand that was dealt him and 
     I never heard him say an unkind word about anybody.
       He was a good man.

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