[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 102 (Friday, June 22, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JAMES ``JIM'' H. SHIMBERG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 22, 2007

  Ms. CASTOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to herald the life and 
philanthropic contributions of James ``Jim'' H. Shimberg, and to 
acknowledge our pride in the communities he founded in the Tampa Bay 
area.
  A native of Syracuse, New York, Jim Shimberg served as a First 
Lieutenant in World War II. After he received his degree from the 
University of Chicago Law School, he practiced law in New York for 
nearly 10 years. Jim then relocated to the Tampa, Florida area in 1958 
to launch a community business. By 1983, his development of over 6,000 
homes, several recreation centers, schools, and shopping centers in 
northwest Hillsborough County laid the foundation of the Town 'N 
Country community.
  Jim's success in community development led him to become President of 
the Tampa Home Builders Association and the Florida Home Builders 
Association, as well as Vice President of the National Association of 
Home Builders. He was co-founder of the National Housing Endowment and 
was inducted into the National Housing Hall of Fame in 1985. After 
developing the Town 'N Country community, Jim served as chairman for 
the Hillsborough County Charter Review Board and was largely 
responsible for the expansion and development of eastern Hillsborough 
County.
  The philanthropic contributions of Jim Shimberg have unquestionably 
improved the lives of thousands of Floridians. His dedication to the 
well-being of Floridians led him to found the University Community 
Hospital in 1968. He served as the first Chairman of the Board for 9 
years, and as chair of the investment committee for the duration of his 
life. His commitment to providing quality health care services led him 
to serve as Vice-President of the Judeo Christian Health Clinic for 25 
years. In addition, Jim endowed the Shimberg Center for Affordable 
Housing at the University of Florida in 1991, and funded the 
philanthropic National Endowment in Washington, DC.
  As a result of his immense lifetime philanthropic contributions, Jim 
Shimberg was honored as Tampa's Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 
2007. He and his wife, Amy Shimberg, were also honored as the 2003 
Philanthropists of the Year by the Tampa Chapter of the Association of 
Fundraising Professionals.
  The Tampa community honors the life of Jim Shimberg, his wife Amy, 
daughters Janet and Nancy, sons Jim, Richard, and Robert, and the 
entire Shimberg family for their outstanding contributions to the 
Florida community. Jim Shimberg's life serves as an inspiration to all 
who knew him, and will continue to benevolently impact the lives of 
Floridians in the future.

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