[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 25 (Thursday, February 8, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E162-E163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JIM JOHNSTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 8, 2018

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Jim 
Johnston, president and CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers 
Association (OOIDA). Jim passed away on January 8, 2018.
  Jim was born in 1939 in Summerfield, MA, but was raised in the 
Midwest after his family moved to Iowa when he was a child. In 1956, he 
enlisted in the U.S. Navy and after completing his military service he 
entered the trucking industry as an owner-operator in 1960.
  In 1969, Jim moved to Grain Valley, MO, during a turbulent time in 
the trucking industry. At that time--as it is now--trucking was 
dominated by small businesses. Recognizing the

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need to form an association that could effectively communicate the 
concerns of small-business truckers to lawmakers, OOIDA was established 
in 1973.
  Most of the founding members had returned to trucking full-time 
shortly after OOIDA was established. Jim was elected president and CEO 
of OOIDA in 1975, the Association's third president since its founding 
two years earlier. As Jim put it, he was the ``only one left and too 
dumb or stubborn to know when to quit.''
  From its humble beginning in an office trailer chained to a light 
pole in Grain Valley, he grew OOIDA into the largest national 
organization fighting for the rights of all professional truckers. 
Under his leadership, OOIDA has grown to more than 160,000 members 
nationwide, increased its relentless advocacy efforts in Washington, 
DC, and offers a robust collection of unique services and programs for 
drivers.
  Jim was OOIDA's leader for more than 42 years. OOIDA was his life's 
work and fighting for the rights of all truckers was his life's 
mission. Up until only days before his passing, he remained dedicated 
to both.
  Jim leaves behind family, friends, and colleagues, but his 
contributions to the trucking industry will live forever.

                          ____________________