[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E17-E18]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN RECOGNITION OF COMMISSIONER A.J. RIVERS

                                  _____
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 7, 2016

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to 
extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to an exceptional 
public servant and outstanding citizen, Commissioner A.J. Rivers, on 
the occasion of his retirement as City Commissioner of Cordele, 
Georgia.
  When Mr. Rivers was elected City Commissioner in 1972, he became the 
first African American elected to city-wide office in Cordele. Since 
that time, he has served his community zealously and with unparalleled 
commitment.
  Commissioner Rivers served our nation with honor and distinction in 
World War II from 1943 to 1946. He graduated from the Holsey-Cobb 
Institute in Cordele in 1947. He worked for North Carolina Mutual 
Insurance Company for 53 years--35 of those years in management and 18 
years in agency. He was certified as an Instructor for Insurance 
Courses by the State Insurance Commissioner's Office in 1983.
  Beyond his duties and responsibilities as a public servant, 
Commissioner Rivers has also dedicated his personal life to serving his 
community. He has served as a Scout Master; Westside Chairperson of the 
American Cancer Society; Westside Chairperson of the American Red 
Cross; President of the 8th District of the Georgia Municipal 
Association in 2006; President and Corporate Board Member of Big/
Brother Big Sister of South Georgia in 2006; and President of the 
Gillespie Development and Day Care Center for 17 years. He is a member 
of the American Legion; NAACP; Cordele Community Advancement Council; 
Crisp County Chamber Executive Committee; and Board of Directors for 
River Valley Regional Commission, among many other community and 
professional organizations. Notably, Commissioner Rivers is the Founder 
and President of the Historical Awards Committee. Always a mentor to 
those who worked and lived around him, Commissioner Rivers possesses 
the rare quality of humble leadership.
  Throughout his career, Commissioner Rivers has been recognized for 
his commitment and leadership in the community. His awards and 
accolades include the 8th District Community Award from the Georgia 
Municipal Association in 1994; the USDA Rural Development Steadfast 
Award in 2002; and the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award from the 
Cordele Lions Club in 2014.
  Commissioner Rivers' Christian faith has always instilled within him 
a desire to positively shape the community in which he lives. As a 
lifetime member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, he regularly 
incorporates his faith into his commitment to public service.
  After retirement, Commissioner Rivers will enjoy spending time with 
his wife, Vera, and their four children, six grandchildren, and seven 
great-grandchildren. Commissioner Rivers has accomplished much in his 
life, but none of it would be possible without the love and support of 
the family he cherishes so dearly.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our 
sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Commissioner A.J. Rivers upon 
the occasion of his retirement from an outstanding career spanning 44 
years as City Commissioner of Cordele, Georgia.

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