[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 166 (Wednesday, November 20, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1712-E1713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN HONOR OF JACK POWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 20, 2013

  Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I submit these remarks in 
honor of Jack Powell, who tragically passed away at the age of 80, the 
day after celebrating his 55th anniversary with his wife Mary.
  Jack was born in Roanoke, Virginia. He attended Morningside 
Elementary, Stonewall Jackson Junior High, and graduated from Jefferson 
High School in 1952. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy for a four-year tour 
of duty during the Korean Conflict. Jack returned from serving his 
country, and then began serving the community as a Roanoke police 
officer.
  In 1957, Jack began working as a Virginia State Alcoholic Beverage 
Control Enforcement Division Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge. From 
the 35 years he spent as a ``Revenuer,'' arresting moonshiners and 
chasing bootleggers across Southwest Virginia, Jack had countless 
stories to tell, many of which he wrote in several books that pay 
tribute to whiskey-makers and those who pursued them. For example, 
while working undercover, Jack was once was jailed in Marion when he 
was unable to convince authorities that he was actually on their team. 
Jack narrowly escaped rattlesnakes, dodged bullets, and carried with 
him his trusty ax he named ``The Devil.''
  He cherished his work upholding the law, loved to share his stories, 
and was an accomplished author, speaker, and storyteller. As

[[Page E1713]]

Vaughan Webb, assistant director at the Blue Ridge Institute at Ferrum 
College, told the Roanoke Times, Jack's death ``is a great loss to the 
lore of moonshining.'' And, ``He was a wealth of information. Jack was 
a character and he really knew how to tell a story.''
  Jack was a member and President of the Piedmont Fraternal Order of 
Police, a Free Mason, and a lifelong member of Belmont Baptist Church. 
He also was a member of the U.S. Navy Mineman Association. Jack earned 
an AAS, BS, and LLB from Virginia Western Community College and LaSalle 
Extension Law Institute, and was a 1981 graduate of the National FBI 
Police Academy.
  Jack is survived by his wife Mary of Roanoke; daughters Trenda Powell 
Jacocks and her husband, Army Colonel John Mc. Jacocks, M.D., of 
Fairfax Station, Virginia and Andrea Powell McKown and her husband, 
Navy Captain Martin H. McKown Jr., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Also 
surviving are six grandchildren, one of which was Martin Hayes McKown 
III of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who was an original member of my 
congressional office staff. Other grandchildren are Brittany Virginia 
Jacocks of New York, New York; Mary Carter Jacocks of Fairfax Station, 
Virginia; Air Force 2LT Connor Braxton McKown of Del Rio, Texas; Army 
Cadet 1st Class Carson Lee McKown, of West Point, New York; and Air 
Force Cadet 4th Class Bailey Wright McKown of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and his 
nephew, Allen Powell, of Roanoke.
  Jack Powell's legacy and influence will be long remembered throughout 
our region. I am honored to pay tribute to this great man. My continued 
prayers are with his family and friends. May God give them comfort 
during this difficult time.

                          ____________________