[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 10, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H870-H871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LIFE OF ERLE EDWARDS BARHAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Abraham) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Erle 
Edwards Barham, a man who dedicated his life to public service in 
northeast Louisiana.
  Edwards tragically passed away in October. His memory will carry on 
with his family and friends, and the agricultural community will honor 
him in March as the newest inductee to the Louisiana Agriculture Hall 
of Distinction. If you look at his life's work, it is easy to see why.

[[Page H871]]

  Edwards grew up in Oak Ridge and held degrees from Louisiana State 
University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He farmed cotton, 
rice, soybeans, and corn in the fields of Louisiana and Mississippi, 
sowing the initial seeds that would grow into his legacy as a truly 
great agricultural leader.
  His contributions to the agriculture community include service in the 
Louisiana Cotton Producers Association and the Northeast Louisiana Rice 
Growers Association. He founded Flying Tiger Aviation, one of the 
Nation's premier agriculture flight schools, which provides an 
invaluable service to my district, one of the largest row crop 
districts in the Nation.
  Edwards left his mark on Louisiana history as well. In 1975, he 
became the first Republican in modern times to be elected to the State 
senate, a position he pursued so he could create a better life for all 
Louisianans.
  Edwards valued education. He served on the Louisiana Board of 
Regents, the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, and 
the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board of 
Supervisors.
  Edwards and his wife, Bennie Berry Barham, were married for 56 years. 
They had four children: the late Ben Edwards Barham, II; Erle West 
Barham; Robert Berry Barham; and Amy Barham Westbrook. He was also 
loved by a number of grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
  Mr. Speaker, Louisiana is a better place today because of the 
contributions that Edwards Barham made to our community. I am honored 
to have called him a friend, and I know he will be greatly missed.

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