[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO ED GRIMES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2018

  Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the late Ed Grimes, 
who served as Mayor and chief executive of the City of Tehachapi for 
six years. He passed away on May 21, 2018 at the age of 75 after a 
lifetime of service to his community.
  Mayor Grimes started his storied career in public service on the 
Tehachapi Unified School District as a member of the School Board, 
serving a career of 20 years, twelve of which were spent as the board 
chairman. He would later campaign successfully for a seat on the 
Tehachapi City Council in 2003, and was first elected as Tehachapi's 
Mayor in 2006. Over his career in public service, Mayor Grimes served 
ten years on the Tehachapi City Council and served three terms as mayor 
during the years of 2006 through 2008, 2010 through 2012, and 2016 
through 2018. A man with a true heart for his city, Mayor Grimes 
refused a paycheck during his tenure as an elected city official, 
instead donating his salary to fund scholarships for Tehachapi high 
school students preparing to go to college.
  Ed, affectionately known at home as ``Mr. Tehachapi,'' called 
Tehachapi his home for 68 years of his life. A lifelong football fan 
with a heart for the youth of the community he served, Mayor Grimes 
dedicated his free time to fundraising for Tehachapi High School's 
Warriors football team, raising over $50,000 for high school athletics 
over a period of nearly two decades. His passion for youth athletics 
was not limited to the sidelines; Mayor Grimes could often be heard 
narrating Tehachapi High School football games over the stadium public 
address system, a hobby that earned him the nickname of ``The Voice of 
the Warriors.''
  Mayor Grimes will be remembered for his kindness, leadership, and 
passion for life. His life of service illustrates the best of public 
service, and he will be remembered as a man who truly loved the city he 
called home. It didn't matter if we were discussing the local economy, 
family or simply football, time spent with Mayor Grimes was always time 
well spent. I will miss Mayor Grimes' words of wisdom, his humble 
manner, and his laugh that was so infectious that you could not help 
but join him. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife Ruthie, his 
children and grandchildren, and the entire Tehachapi community as we 
all mourn the loss of this local icon.

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