[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E39]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE LIFE OF FORMER CONGRESSMAN ANDREW JACOBS, JR.

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                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 9, 2014

  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the life and legacy of a great man who represented Indianapolis in 
Congress for twenty years. After a life of dedicated service to his 
city and country, former Congressman Andrew Jacobs, Jr. passed away on 
December 28, 2013.
  I was privileged to know Congressman Jacobs from a very young age and 
considered him family. He served as an invaluable mentor and dear 
friend to my grandmother, Julia Carson, who he hired to work in his 
Indianapolis congressional office in 1965. It was Andy's faith and 
encouragement that inspired my grandmother to run for state 
representative in 1972, and his support of her never wavered.
  At an early age, Andy took an interest in me as well and imparted 
wisdom while serving as a role model. He continued as a valued mentor, 
even long after he left office. With Andy's passing, our nation lost a 
man who was resolutely courageous, both in his service as a Marine in 
Korea, and in public life.
  People will likely recall that he helped strengthen Social Security, 
fought for civil rights, and was unrelentingly frugal with taxpayer 
dollars. But his true legacy is that of a man who took the path less 
traveled, one of principle, no matter what advantages he sacrificed to 
do so.
  While in Congress, Andy never took a donation from a political action 
committee, he never attacked an opponent, and he never put his name on 
his office door in Washington, D.C., explaining that ``the seat 
belonged to the people I serve, not to me.'' He was a selfless public 
servant, who never cared about station or the trappings of office.
  Andy was a man of rapier wit. And though he used it often to 
hilarious effect in disarming the infrequent angry constituent or 
political foe, he was never caustic or maligning. He upheld the dignity 
of all. This is undoubtedly why he forged enduring friendships with, 
and held the respect of, many across the aisle.
  For some time now, Andy has penned a weekly ``Thought Bite'' for 
Nuvo, a local Indianapolis newspaper. On December 18, it read: ``If 
there's one thing I hate, its hate.'' I cannot think of a better self-
assessment for a man whose heart had unlimited capacity to see the 
goodness in everyone.
  In sum, Andy was a model of decency, compassion, servant-leadership, 
thoughtfulness, and civility. I pray that God rests his soul and gives 
peace and comfort to his wife, Kim, his sons Andy and Steven, and to 
the countless others for whom Andy is ``family.''

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