[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PASSING OF JIM BOREN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAN BOREN

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2010

  Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, for any politician interested in a word of 
wisdom on how to conduct themselves; Dr. James ``Jim'' H. Boren--
father, husband, author, teacher, and philanthropist--had this advice 
to those in public service; ``mumble when uncertain, delegate when in 
distress, and ponder when in command.''
  Madam Speaker, the state of Oklahoma lost a true public servant 
recently--Jim Boren, who drew attention to his political causes with 
excitement, determination and color, died April 24th, 2010 at the age 
of 84.
  Jim Boren joined the Navy during WWII at the age of 17. As a 
midshipman on the Destroyer Escort, William C. Cole, Jim served his 
nation with distinction and honor; including time in the 1945 Battle of 
Okinawa.
  After the war, Jim received his degree from the University of Texas 
and began his first stint as a teacher at Oxnard Union H.S. in Oxnard, 
California. During that time, Jim earned a Master's degree at Cal State 
at Long Beach and a Master's at the University of Southern California. 
Eventually, Jim would return to the University of Texas to earn his 
PhD.
  Later in life, Jim Boren would become the campaign manager, and 
eventually the chief of staff, for Senator Ralph Yarborough of Texas. 
During his time with Senator Yarborough, Jim worked side-by-side with 
him on legislation such as the National Defense Education Act, Cold War 
GI Bill, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Padre Island National Seashore, and 
the Mental Health Bill.
  After working in the U.S. Senate, Jim Boren received a State 
Department appointment in 1960 to serve in an official capacity in 
South America under the Kennedy Administration, eventually obtaining 
the position of Deputy Director of the Economic Mission in Peru. After 
leaving government work, Jim began to teach again and write from his 
position as scholar-in-residence at Northeastern State University in 
Tahlequah, OK.
  Jim possessed his own original brand of political satire, authoring 
literature in that genre, not the least of which is exemplified by a 
pair of books entitled ``When in Doubt, Mumble: A Bureaucrat's 
Handbook'' and, ``How to be a Sincere Phony: A Handbook for Politicians 
and Bureaucrats.''
  Through his unique style and substance, Jim Boren had a tremendous 
impact on his peers and most importantly on his community. And as a 
member of the United States House of Representatives, I would like to 
honor Dr. James ``Jim'' Boren for his consummate wit, humor and 
unyielding dedication to the American political landscape.
  Additionally, I also want to take a moment to send my deep 
condolences to Jim's friends and family, especially his wife Norma 
Williams; two sons, Richard and Stan Boren; two stepsons, James and 
John Williams; brother, Gene Boren; sister, Marilyn Boren; and three 
grandchildren.

                          ____________________