[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 40 (Monday, March 12, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1574-S1575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING JIMMY LEE VANCE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, today I wish to pay tribute to a man 
who spent his life working to strengthen his local community and 
helping the citizens who reside there along the way. Mr. Jimmy Lee 
Vance of Corbin, KY, encompassed every aspect of a tried and true 
entrepreneur, and he had the special quality of a generous heart.
  Mr. Vance was a religious man who cherished the words of the ``red 
letters'' in the Bible, words spoken by Jesus Christ. Those who knew 
him believe he exemplified the attributes that those letters described, 
and that it was a creed of love, forgiveness, and grace by which he 
lived. Sadly, Jimmy Lee Vance left this world on December 20, 2011, due 
to complications from cancer. He was 70 years old.
  Originally from Hart County, KY, Mr. Vance held an array of jobs 
before settling down in Corbin permanently. He served his country in 
the U.S. Navy, and later received a degree in accounting from Western 
Kentucky University on the GI bill. Jimmy took a job with the Internal 
Revenue Service's office in Louisville, KY, and then purchased a Corbin 
CPA firm, which he spent the next few years building up before 
eventually selling it to Ms. Mary Lynn Long. Next, Jimmy set his sights 
on the areas of real estate and business management, and in these 
fields he would make his greatest contribution to the Commonwealth.
  Jimmy honed in on the area surrounding Interstate 75 near Corbin. He 
and his friends put a major effort into breaking new ground and 
building from the ground up. After years of planning and construction 
lead by Mr. Vance, Corbin's Exit 25 has become one of the most popular 
stops on I 75. The restaurants, movie theaters, shopping centers, and 
hotels just off of the exit bring in thousands of travelers each year, 
courtesy of Jimmy and his innovation and hard work.
  Next came the billboards. Mr. Vance knew that in order to entice 
travelers to enter the city of Corbin, he had to let them know what was 
waiting for them. Jimmy was really the first man in the area to get 
into the billboard business. The billboards undeniably led to massive 
tourism in the area, and Jimmy knew this. It is amazing that 
advertising in its simplest form, along with Jimmy's innovative 
imagination and hard work could combine for such a home-run success for 
the area's economy.
  Mr. Vance was instrumental in virtually every field of business in 
Corbin. He had help in large part from his wife Donna Barton, who was 
one of his best business assets. Together they owned and operated the 
Landmark Inn, and Donna was notorious for catering to the needs of all 
the Landmark Inn's guests. The couple's customer service was unmatched, 
and the family atmosphere they provided was an experience unlike any 
other to the people who would stay the night while traveling on I 75.
  Along with hotels, Jimmy was responsible for bringing many different 
businesses to the area, which resulted in hundreds of new jobs for the 
residents of Corbin. But what truly stood out about Jimmy to the locals 
was his remarkable character. One Corbin-area leader said, ``Sometimes 
when Jimmy and I had lunch, someone would come up needing money for a 
meal or pay bills, and Jimmy without any fanfare gave them help. Those 
were things about Jimmy you didn't read in the papers.''
  Jimmy Lee Vance was a humble servant of God, a beloved family man, 
and

[[Page S1575]]

a dear friend to many. All of us could learn a thing or two from Jimmy. 
His moral code and business skills were an inspiration to young 
entrepreneurs of all types. He lit a fire inside them, and that is what 
true leadership is all about. Jimmy's life may have come to an end, but 
his legacy will continue to live on; he inspired others to do great 
things.
  At this time I would like to ask my colleagues in the Senate to join 
me in commemorating the life and times of Mr. Jimmy Lee Vance, a true 
American entrepreneur and philanthropist.
  A news article was recently published in Corbin, Kentucky's own 
Times-Tribune newspaper, recognizing the achievements Mr. Vance made 
throughout his lifetime. I ask unanimous consent that the article be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                [From the Times-Tribune, Feb. 13, 2012]

            Jimmy Lee Vance--Remembrances of Jimmy Lee Vance


            Born September 29, 1941--Died December 20, 2011

       Jimmy Lee Vance was born in Hart County September 29, 1941, 
     and raised on a small farm by his parents, the late Lee 
     Walter and Eva Vance. He was preceded in death by his sister, 
     Norma Reed. He graduated from Canmer High School and served 
     in the U.S. Navy. He received an honorable discharge and used 
     a military G.I. Bill scholarship and graduated with a BS 
     degree in accounting from Western Kentucky University. Jimmy 
     and his first wife, Mildred, had two children: Jason Vance 
     (wife Kim) of Corbin, and daughter Kim (husband Shannon Rahn) 
     of Richmond Hill, Georgia. Jimmy later married Donna Barton 
     in 1990, and they were together until his death December 20. 
     He left two step-children, Amber Noell and Kari Moore, and 
     eight grandchildren, Erika Vance, Hunter Rahn, Wes Rahn, Lee 
     Vance, Jaci Beth Noell, Lauren Moore, Jaken Noell, and Ryan 
     Moore, and a sister, Virginia Patenaude and husband Pat of 
     Canmer, Kentucky.
       Jimmy worked for the Internal Revenue Service's Louisville 
     office and later purchased Henry Martin's respected Corbin 
     CPA firm. Jimmy continued the growth of the business and 
     later sold it to Mary Lynn Long. Jimmy then focused his 
     attention on real estate and business development. He and his 
     partners transformed the land near Corbin's I 75 Exit 25 on 
     Cumberland Falls Highway. This is one of the most formidable 
     business areas off the I 75 Expressway, with the opportunity 
     for continued growth. He was a business leader willing to 
     take risks, with a vision of not just seeing how things are 
     now, but how they could become with initiative and 
     creativity.
       A major Technology Center now managed by Corbin High School 
     was one of Corbin's first major operations built on land 
     Jimmy and his partners developed. Many meetings and training 
     sessions have been conducted in this facility, including 
     Chamber of Commerce luncheons, wedding receptions, and 
     political events which have brought many people to our area. 
     The Technology Center is impressive and will be a key asset 
     to our area for many years.
       The Corbin Arena rests on top of a mountain facing across 
     Cumberland Falls Highway toward the Baptist Regional Medical 
     Center and west to I 75 Exit 25. This majestic entertainment 
     center would never have happened if Jimmy and his partners 
     and government leaders had not worked together to make it 
     possible. The location of the arena on top of the mountain, 
     right or wrong, can't be blamed on Jimmy. His group helped 
     make this location for the arena possible. The challenge in 
     making it a success rests on the shoulders of our local 
     leaders and all of us.
       Many of us enjoy visiting Applebee's or Dino's or Fiesta 
     Mexicana for an enjoyable meal. Exit 25 has 40,000 cars and 
     trucks pass by each day on I 75, and many stop off to eat, 
     shop, buy gasoline, or stay in our motels. PT Pro's 
     attractive Therapy Center adorns this property developed by 
     Jimmy and his group. Several young business leaders such as 
     Darryl and Mark Lawson told me, ``Jimmy wasn't too busy to 
     give us good suggestions on real estate, or tax issues, or 
     good business ideas. He helped us so much.'' Sometimes when 
     Jimmy and I had lunch, someone would come up needing money 
     for a meal or pay bills, and Jimmy without any fanfare gave 
     them help. Those were things about Jimmy you didn't read in 
     the papers.
       For years he and Donna owned and operated the Landmark Inn, 
     which has been a key place for many travelers to stop for 
     rest on tiring trips. A good Redhound buddy, Bob Coleman, who 
     passed away last year, often came to Corbin from Bristol to 
     see Redhound games and friends. Employees at Landmark took 
     good care of Bobby. Jimmy and his family also owned at one 
     time the Best Western Motel. Jimmy told me about Donna's 
     knowledge in handling business decisions. Donna has been a 
     valuable person in Jimmy's businesses program.
       When Jimmy purchased the Holiday Inn in Williamsburg, he 
     had a billboard on the property. It wasn't long until Jimmy 
     was in the billboard business, and soon there were many 
     billboards in our area. We take for granted that people will 
     stop off the interstate and do business in our area. Jimmy's 
     billboards brought many travelers off the interstate to 
     businesses.
       Jimmy purchased the Eagle Falls property, which could have 
     been a great addition for Cumberland Falls State Park. Jimmy 
     drove me on a tour of the Cumberland Falls State Park Camping 
     and Recreation Vehicle area, and it was running out of space. 
     Jimmy's property near the Falls area could have provided 
     additional space to enhance the ability of Cumberland Falls 
     to grow and offer more services. This dream of Jimmy's wasn't 
     completed. Jimmy focused attention on the fact that 
     Cumberland Falls State Park for years has not been promoted 
     and expanded into the type of great attraction it could be. 
     This beautiful and scenic place could become a major 
     attraction for a large segment of the eastern part of our 
     nation. It needs a golf course and some remodeling. Eighteen 
     Kentucky State Parks have golf courses, but the big one 
     closest to a highly travelled interstate highway, Cumberland 
     Falls State Park, has no golf course. Some of Jimmy's close 
     business partners have been Dr. Don Barton, David Myers, 
     Harold Huddleston, David Rossi, Boyce Worley, Darrell 
     Sanders, Becky Myers, and John Warren. Also included was the 
     late Dave Hudson, who was a special friend with Jimmy.
       Today many of us enjoy seeing movies at the Tri-County 
     Cineplex, and Nelda Collings Barton, her daughter Suzie, and 
     son-in-law Greg Razmus built this impressive complex on a 
     site developed by Jimmy and his partners. Nelda and the 
     Razmus family are a valuable entrepreneur team that has been 
     so helpful in many ways to our community. It hurts when you 
     lose entrepreneurs in local communities and areas. They 
     create jobs in your own hometown. They help create other 
     small business leaders who learn from them and take on that 
     same spirit. Jimmy, Donnie Witt and I had lunch each month 
     and sometimes talked about the Bible. Jimmy said, ``I love 
     the `Red' Letters in the New Testament because they are a 
     simple message from Christ. They are words built on love, 
     forgiveness, and grace.''
       Jimmy suffered a very damaging stroke in 2008, but with the 
     help of his family was soon back working on his projects. 
     Sometimes it was a struggle, but Jimmy kept going. A short 
     time prior to his death, tests determined he had an advance 
     problem with lung and bone cancer.
       During Jimmy's last days in Baptist Regional Medical 
     Center, he was well cared for by the medical staff and his 
     family. Rev. Bobby Joe Eaton, Chaplain of the Medical Center, 
     ``ministered unto Jimmy with love and prayer.'' Bobby Joe is 
     a wonderful blessing in our community.
       Each time I visited Jimmy in the hospital in his last days, 
     son Jason was by his side and Jimmy's daughter, Kim, came 
     from Savannah to be with him. Frequently Jimmy's handsome 
     red-headed grandson Lee was there giving support to his 
     grandpa. Soon after Jimmy's death, Donna had a liver 
     transplant and is recovering very well. The Barton family has 
     shown great courage these last years as they have dealt with 
     those difficult experiences in life we will all face at some 
     time. Joan Barton has been an inspiration to all of us as she 
     has recovered from a serious accident and has stood strong 
     with her husband Don and their family.
       In closing, there is an old song that sometimes comes to 
     mind during times of sorrow and sadness. It is titled, 
     ``Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley.'' The words of one verse 
     remind us of a journey we will face at the end of our lives 
     when we say goodbye to family and friends and cross over to a 
     new life with God.

       ``We must walk that lonesome Valley,
       We have to walk it by ourselves.
       Oh, nobody else can walk it for us,
       We have to walk it by ourselves.''

       Our God walks that lonesome valley by our side and loved 
     ones and friends give us comfort and love as we depart. God 
     is with us as we begin our new life.

                          ____________________