[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 114 (Monday, July 21, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S4657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JIM SHARPE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise to honor the long and 
distinguished career of Jim Sharpe. Now retired, Mr. Sharpe opened his 
first business in Somerset, KY, in 1947. Since that time he has opened 
several more, pioneered the houseboat business, and has become an 
irreplaceable fixture in his community.
  Lake Cumberland is known by many as the ``houseboat capital of the 
world''--a designation that is owed in no small part to Jim Sharpe. Jim 
was one of the first to pioneer the industry--building his first 
houseboat in 1953. Much has changed since he sold that first 10-by-24-
foot steel boat, and Jim has been there for it all, often leading the 
way. Houseboats are now much bigger--up to 20 by 100 feet--and are made 
of aluminum and have onboard heating and cooling systems. One thing 
that never changed, though, is Jim's passion for building his 
customer's dream boat.
  Despite being one of the founding fathers of the industry, houseboats 
do not constitute the totality of his life's work. Jim has owned and 
operated several other businesses in Somerset in addition to Sumerset 
Marine. In 1966, he developed Food Fair groceries, which he grew into a 
chain of 13 stores. Two year later, he opened up Somerset's first fried 
chicken restaurant, Kettle Fried Chicken, and in 1974 he bought a car 
dealership, Pulaski Motor Company.
  Although he's now retired, Jim still has plenty to keep him busy. Jim 
has four children and nine grandchildren, and he has also found time to 
pick up golf and travel the country. Jim's family is all the stronger 
for the influence of Jim's dear departed wife, Mary Jo, who left us in 
2008. Married in 1950, they were one of the most thriving and generous 
entrepreneurial couples that Kentucky has ever seen, with distinguished 
careers in the grocery and food retail business, automobile 
dealerships, marinas, restaurants, and most notably the houseboat 
industry which I have already mentioned.
  Jim Sharpe's drive and determination in his business, his commitment 
to his community, and his love of his family can serve as an example to 
us all. Jim is also a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, and we are 
grateful for his service. I ask that my U.S. Senate colleagues join me 
in honoring this upstanding and patriotic Kentucky citizen and veteran.

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