[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 190 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO JIM WILLIAMS ON HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY

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                           HON. MARION BERRY

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2007

  Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a fine 
American, a hard-working family man and a good friend, Jim Williams.
  Jim was born in Jonesboro, AR, on January 9, 1928, and graduated from 
Valley View High School. Jim and his wife Joyce were married on 
December 27, 1953, in Bono, AR. After school he joined the United 
States Air Force and honorably served our country overseas for 2 years. 
After serving, he returned home to Arkansas to become a farmer and 
eventually took a job working for the tool and die shop.
  When he realized that working in a factory was not what he wanted to 
do, he moved to Detroit to learn automechanics from the Wolverine Trade 
Institute. Armed with specialty training and knowledge, he returned to 
Jonesboro to become a service manager at Aycock Pontiac and soon became 
one of the most highly regarded service managers in the country. Jim 
retired from Aycock when he was 62 after more than 20 years of loyal 
service to the business. Today he is enjoying his retirement years by 
spending time with his family and is an active member of the Walnut 
Street Baptist Church.
  Whatever endeavor Jim decided to do, from being a service manager to 
driving the tractor on the family farm, it was evident that he had an 
impeccable work ethic. In addition, he always treated everyone with 
respect and dignity, which is one of the many reasons he was a 
successful service manager at Aycock Pontiac and well regarded 
throughout his community.
  Jim has been married to his wife Joyce for 53 years. They have one 
daughter, two grandchildren and are expecting their first great-
grandchild in the spring. Jim's commitment to our country and his 
decades of service to his community and his family are remarkable. In 
honor of his 80th birthday, I ask my fellow members of Congress to join 
me in congratulating Jim on this special occasion.

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