[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 154 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2015-E2016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE BUD CRAMER AND THE HONORABLE TERRY EVERETT ON 
                     THEIR RETIREMENT FROM CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 2008

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Congressman 
Terry Everett, for his extraordinary service to the people of Alabama 
and the United States House of Representatives. Terry Everett has 
represented the 2nd Congressional District of the state of Alabama with 
distinction and honor for the past 16 years.
  Born in Dothan and raised in Midland City, Terry joined the U.S. Air 
Force following high school. He learned Russian and served as an 
intelligence analyst in Europe. After his military service, Terry 
returned to Dothan and entered the field of journalism. He worked as a 
sports reporter and covered the police beat for the Dothan Eagle. In 
his nearly 30 years in the newspaper business, Terry wore many hats--
from reporter, to editor and publisher, to eventual owner of five small 
papers in southwest Alabama.
  Terry sold his newspapers in the late 1980s and used the profits to 
start his own construction business, a business which also found great 
success. When Congressman Bill Dickinson announced his retirement in 
1992 after 28 years of service, Terry, due in large part to his love 
for country, chose to run for Congress.
  Using the slogan, ``Send a message not a politician!'' the people of 
Alabama's 2nd Congressional District elected Terry to Congress. He has 
been their voice in this body for eight terms and become one of the 
most respected congressmen on Capitol Hill.
  Terry is perhaps best known as an ardent supporter of military 
modernization initiatives as well as his work to protect America's 
space-based technology. As the first chairman, and current ranking 
member, of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, 
Terry has worked tirelessly to bring major defense industry to Alabama. 
This post has also enabled Terry to watch over the needs at 
Montgomery's Maxwell-Gunter Air Force base, home of Air University, and 
Fort Rucker, home of the Army's Aviation Warfighting Center. Terry has 
also led the debate on protecting our nation's valuable space assets--
assets on which our national defense depends.
  Mr. Speaker, agriculture remains Alabama's number one industry, and 
Terry, a former peanut farmer, has been a champion for farmers. As the 
second-ranking Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, Terry has 
sponsored a vast array of agricultural programs and legislation that 
has helped ensure the stability of Alabama farmers.
  Following the September 11th terrorists attacks on our nation, the 
central front in the war against terrorism became our ability to 
accurately gather, process, and understand intelligence. After careful 
consideration of many other qualified individuals, House Speaker Dennis 
J. Hastert appointed Terry to the House Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence in January 2002. Accurately describing his work in this 
capacity, Terry was once quoted as saying ``some of the most important 
work I've done I can't talk about because it was on the Intelligence 
Committee.''
  Terry has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. 
While a local newspaper publisher, the Association of the U.S. Army at 
Fort Rucker twice nominated him for ``Army Civilian of the Year.'' 
Terry served as president and chairman of the board of the Alabama 
Press Association and chairman of the board of directors of the former 
Dothan Federal Savings Bank.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a 
dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family-- 
his wife, Barbara--as well as his many friends

[[Page E2016]]

and colleagues join me in praising his accomplishments and extending 
thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the state of Alabama 
and the United States of America.
  Terry will surely enjoy the well-deserved time he now has to spend 
with Barbara and his beloved constituents. I wish him the best of luck 
in all his future endeavors.

                          ____________________