[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.
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