[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 135 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING JAMES CARMICHAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES B. RENACCI

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2016

  Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend 
and a great American, James ``Jim'' Carmichael, of Wooster, Ohio. Our 
nation, the state of Ohio, and his beloved Wayne County lost a friend, 
a father, a husband, and a dedicated public servant on July 13, 2016.
   God, country, and family were Jim's guiding stars. He was a man of 
incredible faith, integrity, and love. Jim served in the Ohio Army 
National Guard from 1959 to 1964, and from 1971 to 1979, he was the 
mayor of Shreve, Ohio. During this time he was president of the Wayne 
County Mayors Association and president of the Shreve Friends of the 
Library. Jim was also a member of the Shreve Police and Fire 
Departments. He continued his public service as a member of the Wayne 
County Board of Elections from 1980 to 1999, and served as the board's 
chairman from 1989 to 1999; Jim also served as chairman of the Wayne 
County Republican Party from 1981 to 2000.
   In 2001, Jim was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, an 
office he held until 2009. During his time in the legislature, he held 
a number of positions including Assistant Majority Whip, Majority Whip, 
and Assistant Majority Floor Leader. He also led as the Chairman of the 
House State Government Committee and Chairman of the Ohio House and 
Senate Cancer Caucus. After his tenure in the Ohio House of 
Representatives, Jim was elected Commissioner for Wayne County from 
2009 until this year. Jim loved his community. He served as a Merit 
Badge Counselor for the Boy Scouts' Citizen in the Nation merit badge. 
He was also very proud to be a longtime fan of Tri-Way-Shreve School 
and sports, and loved to cheer on the home team.
   Jim is survived by his wife Carolyn, his daughters Keely and Debbie, 
grandchildren Matt, Lindsay, Jamie, Garrett, Grace, and Gavin; great-
grandchildren, Aubrey, Gage, and Evelyn, and his sisters, Ruth Flinner 
and Jane Carmichael.
   I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in paying tribute to a 
reliable friend, a thoughtful lawmaker, and very simply, a good man.

                          ____________________