[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 135 (Tuesday, September 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRATULATING WILMER RAY BAILEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 2011

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today 
to congratulate Wilmer Ray Bailey for being selected as a recipient of 
the Thomas Jefferson Award for Cooperative Weather Observing. This 
award is testament that Wilmer is a true leader for his volunteer 
service to National Weather Service in Jena, La.
  Wilmer has served as a volunteer weather observer for over 43 years, 
working closely with the local forecast office and serving his 
community as a long-standing reliable resource for weather and storm 
information. In addition, he served Louisiana for 30 years as a fire 
protection coordinator and dispatcher with the state's Office of 
Agriculture and Forestry. He works with the National Weather Service in 
Shreveport by giving accurate, timely, and reliable weather 
observations, but also as a trained Storm Spotter. Wilmer provides the 
irreplaceable service of relaying important and potentially dangerous 
weather conditions and damage reports from his community, which is hard 
hit by hazardous weather on a regular basis.
  He is an example of how one person can affect the lives of many, and 
I commend Wilmer for his hard work and dedication to making a positive 
difference in the community. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring 
Mr. Wilmer Ray Bailey for this significant achievement.

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