[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2421-E2422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE MEMORY OF JOHN EDWARD GRENIER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2007

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the State of Alabama recently lost a dear 
friend, and I rise today to honor him and pay tribute to his memory. 
Mr. John Edward Grenier was a devoted family man and one of the most 
respected political strategists in modern Alabama politics.
  Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1930, John Grenier attended Jesuit 
High School and lettered in track, baseball, and football. He received 
his undergraduate and law degrees from Tulane University. He entered 
the United States Marine Corps and rose to the rank of captain. He 
served with distinction in Korea as a pilot, flying over 100 patrols in 
squadron VMF 312, known as the Checkerboard Squadron.
  After receiving an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, John 
Grenier attended New York University and received an LLM degree in 
taxation. He worked on Wall Street for a brief time before moving to 
Birmingham, Alabama, to work with Southern Natural Gas

[[Page E2422]]

Company. He later joined the law firm of Bradley Arant Rose & White, 
where he became a partner. He then joined the firm formerly known as 
Lange, Simpson, Robinson & Somerville and was a partner for over 35 
years before retiring in 2004.
  John Grenier's true passion was politics, a passion that changed the 
course of Alabama politics. He began his political career as chairman 
of the Jefferson County Young Republicans. In this capacity, he 
organized a political rally in Birmingham in 1960 for Richard Nixon.
  John Grenier organized the modern day Alabama Republican Party and 
served as the state chairman in 1962. He joined the Goldwater for 
President Campaign and organized the delegates to the Republican 
National Convention in San Francisco. John Grenier was the Southern 
Regional Director for the campaign when Senator Goldwater swept many of 
the southern states, including Alabama, in his bid for President.
  In 1966, Mr. Grenier was the Republican nominee against Democratic 
U.S. Senator John Sparkman. Even though he lost that race, John fared 
better than most previous Republicans in what was then a heavily 
Democratic state.
  In 1986, John served as the campaign manager for Guy Hunt's 
successful bid to become the first Republican governor of Alabama since 
Reconstruction. He served as Governor Hunt's chief of staff and later 
managed Governor Hunt's successful bid for reelection.
  Madam Speaker, John Grenier was a political leader, strategist and 
visionary. He loved life and lived it to the fullest, and his passing 
marks a tremendous loss for all of Alabama. He will be deeply missed by 
many, most especially his wife, Stella Kontos Grenier; his son, John 
Beaulieu Grenier; his daughter-in-law, Joy Grenier; his sister, 
Rosemary Grenier Rivet; his four grandchildren, John Beaulieu Grenier, 
Jr., Dorothy Monnish Grenier, Evans Barlow Grenier, and Carolyn Youmans 
Grenier; as well as countless friends he leaves behind.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

                          ____________________