[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 17, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING KEITH M. KING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2017

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
resourceful and ambitious young man, Mr. Keith M. King. He has shown 
what can be done through hard work, dedication and a desire to live a 
productive life.
  Keith M. King was born April 20, 1959 in New Orleans, LA. He lived 
there for the first two years of his life, before moving to Las Vegas, 
Nevada with his grandparents for the next five years. At the age of 
seven, Mr. King joined his parents in Chicago, IL, but due to the 
increasing violence, they relocated to Mississippi. Mr. King was then 
ten years old and stayed in Mississippi with his parents until the age 
of twelve. He then returned back to Las Vegas, Nevada with his 
grandparents and resided with them for another four years. At the age 
of sixteen, Mr. King moved back to Mississippi with his parents because 
of racial riots at his school in Las Vegas.
  Mr. King was halfway through the 10th grade as he continued to live 
in Mississippi until he graduated from the Jefferson County High School 
in Fayette, Mississippi. Prior to graduating from high school he joined 
the Army on the delay entry program on December 16, 1976 and entered 
the service on August 8, 1977. He completed his basic training in Fort 
Jackson, SC and completed his advanced individual training in Fort 
Benning, GA. He was stationed at Scofield Barracks in Honolulu, HI. 
During Mr. King's tour, he was deployed throughout the Pacific. Some of 
his tours were: Guam, USA, Korea, The Philippines Islands, Australia, 
The Big Island of Hawaii, Japan and Samoa.
  On August 8, 1980, Mr. King joined the Army Reserves. His first unit 
was the 386th Transportation Unit in Natchez, MS. Mr. King was still 
with this unit when they got activated on August 27, 1990 to go to 
Saudi Arabia to serve in the Desert Shield/ Desert Storm War. They 
stayed in every state in the United States which included Panama, and 
overseas on numerous occasions. In 1999, Mr. King transferred to the 
412th Eng. Battalion in Vicksburg, MS and in 2000 he was deployed and 
made his sixth and final deployment to Korea before his military career 
ended. In 2001, he transferred from the 412th Eng. Battalion to the 
296th Trucking Company in Brookhaven, MS. On August 30, 2002, Mr. King 
retired from the military with over twenty-five years of military 
service for his country. He retired with the rank of E-7, Sergeant 
First Class.
  Mr. King has been married to his lovely wife, Sandra Gamble-King for 
thirty-one years. They have three children. Their oldest daughter has 
one daughter, the middle son has a set of twins and their baby boy is 
only sixteen. They have two Godchildren who they love very much.
  Mr. King has a total of twenty-three years of law enforcement 
experience. He started his law enforcement career in Fayette, MS with 
the Fayette Police Department and at Alcorn State University Police 
Department both at the same time. Three years later he left the Fayette 
Police Department and joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. 
After working with the Sheriff's Office for six years, Mr. King decided 
to go back to school in 2006 to expand his career and pursue a Criminal 
Justice Degree, which he obtained in 2010. He graduated with a Bachelor 
of Art degree having a GPA of 3.5 and he's still with the Alcorn State 
University Police Department as a Lieutenant.
  Mr. King is on the deacon's board at his church, he sings in the 
choir, and plays the piano for two different churches. He is an author 
of inspirational writings. His first published book is entitled 
``Crying, Through GOD'S Eyes''. He has completed two more books that 
have not been published yet and is currently working on another one. He 
has a weekly column in the Fayette Chronicle, the Glory Journal and the 
GAD About Magazine in Fayette, MS; along with a column in the Bluff 
City Post in Natchez, MS.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Keith 
M. King for his dedication to the U.S. military, the 2nd Congressional 
District and serving his country and community.

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