[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 186 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE MEMORY OF JANE MAURY DENTON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2007

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and indeed the entire 
Nation recently lost a special lady, and I rise today to honor Mrs. 
Jane Maury Denton and pay tribute to her memory.
  Born in Mobile, Alabama, on March 22, 1926, Jane Maury was educated 
at The Convent of Visitation School in Alabama and Mary Washington 
College in Virginia. She married Mobile native, Jeremiah Denton, on 
June 6, 1946, the day he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy.
  Mrs. Denton and her husband reared seven children while living in 
many states and Europe during her husband's distinguished military 
career; unfortunately, for almost 8 years, she reared their children 
alone. On July 16, 1965, while serving in the Vietnam War, then-Captain 
Denton's plane was shot down over the city of Thanh Hoa. He was held as 
a prisoner-of-war for eight long years in Hanoi, Vietnam.
  During her husband's imprisonment, Mrs. Denton helped found the 
National League of Families of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. 
Her tireless work on behalf of all American airmen held prisoner in 
North Vietnam is credited with obtaining a more humane treatment and 
ultimate release.
  Jerry Denton returned home a true American hero; obviously, he and 
Jane had so many years of their lives for which to catch up. In 1980, 
Admiral Denton successfully ran for the U.S. Senate from Alabama. As a 
senator's wife, Jane became a true champion for the improvement of 
America's mental health facilities.
  In recognition of her life-long support for her husband's naval 
career in addition to her work as an advocate for POWs, Mrs. Denton was 
given the honor of sponsoring and christening the USS Mobile Bay, a 
Ticonderoga Class Cruiser in 1985. The day she christened the ship, she 
said, ``The event will be a real highlight of my life. My pleasure at 
receiving this honor is multiplied by my love for the Navy, my concern 
for our national defense, and my pride in having a fine ship named for 
Mobile Bay.''
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a 
dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout Alabama, as 
well as a wonderful wife and devoted mother. Mrs. Denton will be missed 
by her family--her husband of 61 years, Senator Jeremiah Denton; their 
children, Jeremiah Denton III, Donald Denton, James Denton, William 
Denton, Madeleine Doak, Michael Denton, and Mary E. Denton; her sister, 
Madeleine McPhillips; her 14 grandchildren; and her three great-
grandchildren--as well as the many countless friends she leaves behind. 
Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

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