[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 27, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2003-H2004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JIM BRADEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Mooney) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jim 
Braden, pictured here with his granddaughter Cates. Jim is a native of 
Ripley, West Virginia, who is being honored on April 30 for his 
significant accomplishments and contributions to the coaching of young 
men and women for over 52 years in Tennessee and West Virginia.
  Jim Braden's roots in Jackson County, West Virginia, baseball began 
with his father, Ed Braden. Ed Braden was a member of the Sandy Valley 
baseball club in the 1940s, which received numerous county pennants 
that earned them the right to play in the Little World Series.
  Ed built houses to accommodate the influx of people relocating to 
work at the new Kaiser Aluminum plant in the 1960s. He also founded 
Braden Plumbing and Heating in Ripley and was responsible for 
installing the first bathrooms in many Jackson County homes. Throughout 
the years, Ed was a staple at Ripley High School baseball and other 
athletic events.
  While at Ripley High School, Jim Braden was in a car accident that 
cut his baseball career short. Once he recovered from the accident, 
Jim, still a high school student in Ripley, West Virginia, started 
coaching youth sports teams.
  After a brief period at Glenville State College, Jim Braden proudly 
served our country for years in the Vietnam war as a part of a U.S. 
Navy helicopter squadron.
  Upon returning to the United States, he took employment as a teacher 
at Roane-Jackson Technical Center.
  Jim moved to Farragut, Tennessee, in 1980, and enjoyed a long career 
as an industrial sales consultant. But he took his love of baseball 
and, most notably, his Cincinnati Reds with him, never forgetting his 
West Virginia roots. His sister, Pam Braden, is on the board of Ripley 
Convention & Visitors Bureau.
  Braden and his wife, Catherine, raised their two children, Laura and 
Mark, while Braden continued coaching baseball, basketball, and 
football. In Farragut, Braden was instrumental in organizing and 
implementing the countywide Knox County Middle Schools baseball league. 
He created the Dugout Club's Web page and continues

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to serve as one of its Web masters. He also serves as a guiding force 
to help raise funds for facilities and other activities supporting 
Farragut baseball.
  Braden has coached numerous Division I and professional baseball 
players, including former Minnesota Twins pitcher Kyle Waldrop, Eli 
Lorg, and Cale Lorg. He also coached White Sox player Nicky Delmonico, 
Curt Powell from the Detroit Tigers organization, Nick Williams from 
the Marlins organization, and Philip Pfeifer from the Dodgers 
organization.
  Thank you, Coach Braden, for your service to our country and for 
coaching generations of young baseball players.


                     Congratulating Brittany French

  Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate Ms. Brittany French of Berkeley County, West Virginia, for 
being named the National Volunteer Fire Council's Junior Firefighter of 
the Year.
  As a member of the Junior Volunteer Fire Company and the Volunteer 
Fire Department in Hedgesville, Brittany is a third-generation 
firefighter.
  Brittany has continually demonstrated a passion for learning about 
health and emergency services. She studied these subjects, earning 
several certifications at James Rumsey Technical Institute during her 
junior and senior years in high school. She is now enrolled in the 
paramedic course at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, 
allowing her to continue her education while still serving her 
community.
  Brittany clearly enjoys helping others and has excelled in doing so. 
She previously won first place in EMT skills in a statewide health 
competition. She has helped the fire department fundraise, and she 
continues to be actively involved in her church.
  Brittany is among West Virginia's most devoted young leaders. I am 
honored to join her family, friends, and the dedicated firefighters 
with whom she works in congratulating Brittany on being named the 
National Volunteer Fire Council's Junior Firefighter of the Year.

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