[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 11, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF JAMES ``J.'' RALPH LUNDY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 11, 2009

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life and achievements of long-time Indian River County civic leader and 
humanitarian, James ``J.'' Ralph Lundy, who died on February 27 at the 
age of 90. During this most difficult time, I want to extend my 
thoughts and prayers to his family. I hope that Mr. Lundy's family 
takes comfort in knowing that his memory and legacy of philanthropy 
will live on within the Gifford community and in Indian River County 
for generations to come. Mr. Lundy always put others first, and 
extended a helping hand to all those in need.
  Mr. Lundy first came to Indian River County in the 1950s as a 
reporter for the Jacksonville Journal to cover Dodgers baseball legend 
Jackie Robinson. Later, he became production manager at the Press 
Journal where he wrote a column about the community for the paper. In 
1963, Mr. Lundy started the community radio show entitled, ``Gospel 
Caravan,'' one of the longest-running gospel music programs in Florida, 
and later created the program ``Give them their flowers,'' as a way to 
honor lesser-known community leaders before they died.
  Mr. Lundy's love for the Gifford community and activism earned him 
the title ``Gifford's spokesman.'' He spent about 30 years as president 
of the Gifford Progressive Civic League, and in that time, made 
significant contributions to the lives of the people of Gifford. Mr. 
Lundy pushed county officials to install traffic lights to increase 
public safety, established a voting precinct and the Gifford Community 
Center to bolster community pride, and brought clean water to Gifford 
to improve its residents' health. In 1988, he helped establish Our 
Father's Table Soup Kitchen to provide meals for the community's most 
needy.
  In 2007, Mr. Lundy won the Jefferson Award, a national award that 
recognizes individual public service contributions.
  Madam Speaker, through all of these roles, J. Ralph Lundy had an 
indelible impact on the spirit and well-being of his community, and 
touched the lives of many in Indian River County. He will be remembered 
for his heart, compassion, and dedication to his fellow man. I am 
fortunate to have known him and will miss him dearly.

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