[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING ATTORNEY EDWARD BLACKMON, JR. FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE 
                    GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable public servant, Attorney Edward Blackmon, Jr. Attorney 
Blackmon was born and raised in Canton, Mississippi. He is a graduate 
of Tougaloo College, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 
Political Science. He received his Juris Doctorate from the George 
Washington University Law Center in Washington, DC in 1973.
  Shortly after completing George Washington University, Attorney 
Blackmon began practicing law in Mississippi at the North Mississippi 
Rural Legal Services in Greenwood, Mississippi. Attorney Blackmon 
remained with North Mississippi Rural Legal Services until 1974 when he 
entered into private practice in Canton, Mississippi with the Law Firm 
of Blackmon & Smith. In 1989, Attorney Blackmon and his wife, Attorney 
Barbara Blackmon, formed the Law Firm of Blackmon & Blackmon in Canton 
where he currently serves as the firm's Senior Partner.
  Attorney Blackmon has extensive experience in personal injury, 
products liability and defense law. His clientele reads like a ``Who's 
Who'' among corporate America. Attorney Blackmon has defended some of 
the nation's top corporate companies in civil litigation, and obtained 
hundreds of millions of dollars in civil awards for damages on behalf 
of his clients.
  Attorney Blackmon also has lengthy experience in criminal law defense 
as well. During a 20 year period involving more than 50 defense trials, 
Attorney Blackmon excelled without losing a single case.
  He is a 24 year member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, 
where he previously served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. In 
other capacities, he has served as Chairman of the Legislative Black 
Mississippi State House of Representatives Caucus, President of the 
Magnolia Bar Association, and is currently serving as a member of the 
Tougaloo College Board of Trustees, in addition to the George 
Washington University School of Law Board of Advisors.
  In 2002 Attorney Blackmon was named by the National Law Journal as 
one of the Nations Top 10 Litigators. Among his many achievements in 
his role as a public servant, Attorney Blackmon is most proud of his 
work as a State Legislator. He has led redistricting efforts that led 
to the reapportionment of legislative and judicial districts which 
increased the number of minority representation in each of those 
offices.
  Attorney Blackmon and his wife, Attorney Barbara Blackmon, are 
celebrated for their philanthropic services in the area of education. 
They have made substantial financial contributions to their alma 
maters, Tougaloo College and Jackson State University, in addition to a 
number of other institutions and individual students seeking to advance 
themselves through higher education. Attorney Blackmon is a member of 
the Cade Chapel Missionary Baptist Church and is the father of four 
children, Janessa, Madison, Bradford and Stephen.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Attorney 
Blackmon for his dedication and service to the state of Mississippi.

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