[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JERRY HOWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2008

  Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the retirement of 
Jerry Howell, organist at the Maxwell Church of the Brethren and Loring 
United Methodist Church of Maxwell, Iowa, and to express my 
appreciation for his dedication and commitment to his church and 
community.
  For the past 50 years, Jerry has contributed his time and talents to 
his church community. He began piano lessons at the age of 11. In 1958, 
the organist at Santiago Methodist Church in rural Mitchellville 
retired, and at the age of 14, Jerry was called up to the organ bench. 
In 1989, Jerry and his wife Opal transferred their church membership to 
Loring United Methodist Church in rural Maxwell, Iowa. The organist at 
Loring retired, and Jerry was back on the organ bench. For the past 10 
years, he was the organist for both Loring and Maxwell Church of the 
Brethren.
  It is estimated that in the past 50 years, Jerry has played for 2,700 
Sunday morning services, 120 funerals and 25 weddings. Unfortunately, 
Jerry's career has been cut short with his diagnosis of age-related 
macular degeneration that has caused blurry vision that makes reading 
and playing the music difficult. Although he no longer plays the organ 
at church, the memories of Jerry's musical contributions live on, and 
he continues to be an active member of his community.
  Beyond retiring from his service at church, Jerry also retired from 
his job as an accounting technician at the Iowa Department of 
Transportation a year and a half ago, and he has taken the opportunity 
to travel around the country while his vision remains strong enough. I 
consider it an honor to represent Jerry Howell in the United States 
Congress, and I wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement as he 
continues to serve his community and travel around the country.

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