[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1796-E1797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF THE LATE AUSTIN J. ``SONNY'' 
                                SHELTON

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 2008

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
service of the late Austin J. ``Sonny'' Shelton, who passed away on 
September 7, 2008, after a long illness. Sonny was 59 years of age. 
Sonny was a member of the 19th Guam Legislature, from 1987 to 1989, 
where he served as the chairman of the Committee on Rules, vice 
chairman of the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Consumer Protection, 
secretary general to the Asian Pacific Parliamentarian's Union and as a 
member of the Association of Pacific Island Legislators.
  In 1995, Sonny was appointed as the director of the Government of 
Guam's Department of Parks and Recreation and as the Guam Public 
Auditor from 1999 to 2000. In 2001 he served as the acting director of 
the Department of Administration.

[[Page E1797]]

  After graduating from Father Duenas Memorial High School in 1967, 
attending the University of Guam and Texas State Technical Institute, 
Sonny returned to Guam and joined Shelton Music Company, his family's 
business. He later established AJS Incorporated and expanded his 
business interests to include other vending machines, amusement devices 
and real estate.
  Sonny Shelton was a civic minded individual who devoted much time to 
community organizations including the Benevolent and Protective Order 
of Elks, and the Guam Shrine Club, Aloha Temple. He was a volunteer for 
the University of Guam's 4-H Summer Youth Fishing Program. He served as 
president of the Father Duenas Memorial School's Football Booster Club. 
He was active in his church where he served as a brother of the 2nd 
Community of the Neo-Catechumenal Way of Nino Perdido Catholic Parish 
in Asan.
  Sonny was an avid fisherman who participated in many deep sea fishing 
events and his love of outdoor sports extended to off-road racing where 
he enjoyed success as a driver.
  Austin J. ``Sonny'' Shelton was the only child of the late Austin 
James Shelton, a successful Guam entrepreneur and Amanda Pangelinan 
Guzman Shelton, a professional nurse. He is survived by his widow, 
Graciella Shinohara Shelton, his children, and their spouses, Raymond 
and Melinda Shelton Slattery; Madeleine Shelton, Austin Shelton II, and 
Amanda Shelton; and his grandchildren Trinidad, Kaya, Mariana, Raymond 
and Gabryelle. He is dearly missed by his family and friends, and our 
community extends our sympathy to them.

                          ____________________