[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JACK ROUNTREE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2018

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jack Rountree, a veteran 
of the United States Army, a builder, and an all-around great American.
  Jack has been a builder from a young age. He was born into a middle-
class family who owned a thriving trucking business. The Great 
Depression was a difficult period for their household as it was for so 
many across our country. It was at that time that Jack completed his 
first construction project: an overhang for the shed so he would not 
have to milk cows in the rain. He was thirteen when he completed that 
project.
  After graduating from High School Jack enlisted in the United States 
Army where he was assigned to the Army's Special Guard Military Police 
stationed at the Los Alamos Project in New Mexico. There he guarded the 
atomic bomb testing site at White Sands. There were a number of hazards 
associated with this position not least of which was regular exposure 
to dangerous radiation. Jack rose through the ranks quickly and was 
honorably discharged in 1948 as a sergeant.
  Following his service Jack returned home to Oregon to tend to his 
sick mother. After training to become a diesel mechanic he quickly 
realized his true passion was building. He began his construction 
career in 1952. Over the years he has received numerous awards for his 
work including the 1988 Craftsmanship Award of the Southwestern Oregon 
Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
  Though he retired from his business Jack is still a builder at age 90 
with the same spirit and drive he had as a teenager. Jack recently 
built a 28-foot-high prototype border wall on his property in Roseburg. 
His continued dedication to his craft and his country are commendable. 
I wish him all the best and trust the whole House will join me in 
thanking him for his service to our country.

                          ____________________