[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H2360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING FORMER BRAZOS COUNTY JUDGE RANDY SIMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Flores) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former Brazos County 
Judge Randy Sims, who passed away on April 2 of this year.
  Judge Sims served the Brazos Valley community for decades. He served 
as the Brazos County commissioner of precinct 3 from 1972 to 1976 and 
again from 1989 to 2001. He also served on the Bryan City Council from 
1987 to 1988. Lastly, he served as the Brazos County judge from 2003 to 
2010.
  Arthur Randolph Sims was born in Houston on July 31, 1939. He 
graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School. During his high school 
days, he was quite an athlete, playing both baseball and football. He 
passed up a chance to play professional baseball to get a college 
education. Legendary coach Bear Bryant recruited Randy to play football 
for Texas A&M University. Not only was Randy a top running back for 
Texas A&M, but he also held a longstanding record in the Southwest 
Conference for kicking a 52-yard field goal.
  Following graduation from A&M, Randy remained in Brazos Valley. In 
May of 1960, he married Brenda Bryan. They were married for nearly 55 
years. Randy and Brenda have one son and one daughter, and they are 
blessed with nine grandchildren.
  In the mid-1960s, Randy opened a restaurant called Randy Sims 
Barbecue, which operated for 27 years. Randy was a great cook, and his 
restaurant carried recipes from Brenda's dad and from Brenda's brother, 
Red Bryan and Sonny Bryan.
  Randy was a loving father, and he cherished his family time. He 
quickly learned how to balance his career in order to spend quality 
time with his family. Last year, the Bryan-College Station Chamber of 
Commerce named Randy and Brenda as its Citizens of the Year. This award 
was bestowed on them for their long and dedicated service to our 
community.
  As an active community leader, Randy Sims served tirelessly on 
various boards and organizations, including on the State of Texas 
Regional Review Committee, the Presidential Library Committee, the 
Bryan-College Station Economic Development Corporation, the Bear Bryant 
Scholarship Foundation, the Brazos Valley Fellowship of Christian 
Athletes, the Solid Waste Advisory Board, the Brazos Beautiful 
Initiative, the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History, the Grace 
Bible Church Deacon Board, and the Brazos County 911 Board.
  His service to the Brazos Valley also included serving as a Bryan ISD 
host volunteer, as vice president of the Bryan-College Station Chamber 
of Commerce, as chair of the Brazos County Health Board District, and 
as the chair of the Brazos County Juvenile Board.
  Mr. Speaker, Randy Sims was a great leader, a dedicated public 
servant, and an outstanding family man. His selfless devotion to our 
community will be greatly missed. He will long be remembered as a great 
public servant to our community and as a loving husband, father, 
grandfather, and friend to his family and friends.
  My wife, Gina, and I offer our deepest sympathy and our heartfelt 
condolences to Brenda Sims and to her family. We also lift up Randy 
Sims' family and friends in our prayers.
  As I close, Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Americans continue to pray 
for our country during these difficult times, for the men and women in 
uniform, who protect it from external threats, and for our first 
responders, who protect us from threats here at home.

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