[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 91 (Tuesday, June 9, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E856-E857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE CAREER OF CAROLYN SIMS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 9, 2015

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, today I honor the career and celebrate the 
retirement of a dedicated and tireless public servant, Carolyn Sims, 
who most recently worked as Precinct Administrator for County 
Commissioner Gary Fickes of Tarrant County, Texas.

[[Page E857]]

  Carolyn was born in Dallas and built her career of local service on a 
strong educational foundation. At the University of North Texas she 
earned her Bachelors in Business Education and a Masters in Public 
School Administration, in addition to a vocational teaching 
certification and hours toward a counseling certification. After 
briefly beginning her professional life at a bank, she put her 
background to work in helping children. From 1973 to 1982 she served as 
an 8th grade teacher in the Irving and Grapevine-Colleyville 
Independent School Districts, teaching vocational subjects, including 
typing, and also serving as a counselor. Afterward, Carolyn worked for 
the latter as a volunteer coordinator.
  She then ran her own secretarial business for several years and 
became a mother to Trey and Kate. With that business experience in 
hand, in 1989, Carolyn became the president of the Colleyville Area 
Chamber of Commerce, where she worked to advance the concerns and 
success of local business for six years. Afterwards, she became 
president of the Arts Council of Northeast Tarrant County from 1995 to 
2002. Seeing her record of service, Texas Representative Vicki Truitt 
recruited Carolyn to serve as her chief of staff in Austin during the 
legislative session of 2003. Upon returning, she entered local 
government by becoming the director of marketing and public affairs for 
the Town of Westlake until 2006, and then worked into the next year as 
the executive director of the Northwest Independent School District 
Education Foundation.
  Finally, Carolyn's record of leadership led her to becoming the 
Precinct Administrator, essentially a chief of staff role, for Tarrant 
County Commissioner Gary Fickes in 2007. In that position, she 
regularly worked with and served people from 17 cities.
  Her admirable history of service to the community, however, does not 
end with her professional track. Carolyn is currently on the boards of 
the Tarrant County MHMR (providing practical help to people with mental 
health needs), the Northeast Tarrant County Chamber of Commerce, and 
the Northeast Leadership Forum. Over the years she has volunteered with 
and been an active participant in numerous civic organizations 
including: Community Enrichment Center, United Way, JPS, Southlake 
Toastmasters, Hugworks, Rotary Club, Hill Country Bible Church, Austin 
Aggie Moms, Alliance for Children, Women's Shelter, Metroport Cities 
Partnership, Southlake Business Women Organization, American Cancer 
Society, University of North Texas Alumni, and other Chamber of 
Commerce branches and school district education foundations. She has 
also had professional affiliations with Americans for the Arts, Texas 
Alliance for the Arts, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Texas 
Travel Industry Association, North Hills Hospital Board, and the Texas 
Chamber of Commerce Executives.
  Suffice it to say, Carolyn loves to help others through her 
organizations and community service, listening to their concerns, 
sharing job opportunities, and providing means of assistance to those 
in need. She is the model of a citizen who dedicates her life to 
working hard for her neighbors.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I 
ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking Carolyn Sims 
for her years of service to Tarrant County, and various aspects of the 
community within it, and in celebrating her well-earned retirement.

                          ____________________