[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF THE LIFE OF JAMES PERRY THURBER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 31, 2018

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an 
extraordinary American, a true patriot, and one of the most highly 
respected and beloved members of my congressional district, James P. 
Thurber.
  Jim Thurber was born on June 3, 1928, and died on June 16, 2018, at 
the age of 90. He lived a full and exceptionally productive life, and 
he will be missed by all who were privileged to know him.
  Jim Thurber graduated from Milton Academy, Stanford University and 
George Washington University where he received a Master's degree in 
International Relations. He also attended the National War College from 
1973-1974.
  Jim married the love of his life, Emily (Emy) Forrest in 1950, and 
together they raised four children: James Perry Thurber III (Debra 
McGibbon); Harriette Thurber Rasmussen; Alexander Forrest Thurber 
(Courtney Graham); and Mary Thurber Martin, and have 12 beloved 
grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
  Prior to his long Foreign Service career, Jim Thurber was a reporter 
and editor for the Wall Street Journal and worked at Stanford 
University as an academic administrator. He served with courage, 
dignity and effectiveness in the Foreign Service for 23 years. When he 
was serving in Islamabad, Pakistan, the U.S. Embassy was attacked, and 
Jim earned the State Department's Award of Valor for his actions during 
that crisis. He served as Director of the USIA's operations in North 
Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, and he retired as Minister 
Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Canada in 1990.
  Jim Thurber spent his entire life in service to his country. His 
public service included serving as Mayor of the City of Los Altos, and 
June 3, 2002 was designated by the City as Jim Thurber Day, for the 
Mayor who served the most consecutive years in that office. He served 
as President of the Los Altos History Museum; President of the 
Foothill-DeAnza Foundation; Director of the Campaign Ethics Foundation; 
and Treasurer of the Foreign Service Association of California. He 
served on the boards of many organizations, including the Los Altos 
Community Foundation; the Santa Clara County Airports Commission; the 
League of Conservations Voters; Goodwill Industries of California and 
many more. Jim was extremely active in the Democratic Party in 
California and was an elected member of the Santa Clara County 
Democratic Central Committee and the California State Democratic 
Central Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in 
extending our sincerest condolences to Jim Thurber's wife, Emy, and to 
his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and in doing so, 
honor a great, good and gentle man who loved his country and served it 
with distinction.
  Jim made our world better, and our country and our community 
stronger. How blessed I am to have known him and been inspired by his 
integrity and patriotism.

                          ____________________