[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 79 (Friday, June 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THOMAS H. DAVIS JR.--RETIREMENT FROM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF 
                             SOUTH ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 3, 2011

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the work of Thomas Davis 
Jr., a respected leader in his field and an outstanding citizen of 
Mobile, Alabama.
  Mr. Davis recently retired as President and CEO of the nonprofit 
Community Foundation of South Alabama, an organization which has 
flourished under his guidance over the past 27 years. Beginning as the 
program's development director in 1984, Tom quickly rose to become its 
executive director in 1985 and went on to become the president of the 
foundation in 2008.
  Under his direction, the foundation's assets increased from $3 
million to over $50 million. Even more impressive is the growth of the 
foundation's charitable funds and endowments. By the time he left 
office, this number had gone from 60 funds and endowments to over 400.
  Mr. Davis' success is the product of hard work, an exceptional work 
ethic and an unparalleled ability to lead, which proved handy during 
his oversight of foundation programs that provided assistance to 
earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan as well as those recently 
affected by the Gulf oil spill. He was also instrumental in obtaining 
health insurance for local underprivileged children.
  It would be a hard task to designate one of his many achievements as 
being his greatest, for Tom accomplished so much throughout his tenure. 
However, the nonprofit's recognition as a ``Partnership to Build 
Community Capital'' by the Kresge Foundation is a distinct honor, 
placing the Community Foundation of South Alabama in an elite group of 
which there are only six such programs nationally.
  On behalf of the people of Mobile, I want to thank Tom Davis for his 
service and wish him--and his family--continued success in the years to 
come.

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