[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 207 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H7025-H7026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JOHNNY BLAKELY

  (Mr. GREEN of Tennessee asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
decades-long service of a public servant who embodies what makes 
Tennessee the Volunteer State, Mr. Johnny Blakely.
  After 18 years faithfully representing the Congressman for 
Tennessee's Seventh District, Johnny will begin his next chapter of 
life in the new year.
  For 24 years, he served on the school board, including 17 years as 
chairman. Johnny also served as vice mayor of his hometown.
  He and Linda, his charming wife of 56 years, have three children--
Ross, Lora, and Jeremy--and seven grandchildren.
  On behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to congratulate 
Johnny Blakely on his retirement and express our gratitude for his 18 
years of service to Tennessee's Seventh District.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the decades-long service of a 
public servant who embodies what makes Tennessee the Volunteer State, 
Mr. Johnny Blakely.
  After 18 years faithfully representing the member of Congress for 
Tennessee's Seventh District, Johnny will begin his next chapter of 
life in the new year.
  Johnny grew up in McNairy County in west Tennessee, where his mother 
diligently raised a family of five while also working in the local shoe 
factory. After a thirty-five year career at

[[Page H7026]]

AT&T, he joined then-Congressman Marsha Blackburn's office. When I was 
elected to Congress, he agreed to postpone retirement to continue 
serving our district for two more years.
  Johnny has been the invaluable link between the work we do in 
congress and the local communities in the district by being a resource 
for constituents and community leaders and listening to the concerns 
and challenges facing rural Tennesseans.
  Johnny understands the challenges of our community leaders because he 
himself has been one throughout his life. For 24 years, he served on 
the McNairy County Board of Education, including 17 years as chairman. 
During this time, the Board of Education oversaw two multi-million-
dollar building projects in the county. In 1992, he was selected to 
serve on the All Tennessee School Board. Johnny also served as Vice 
Mayor of his beloved hometown, Ramer.
  Johnny and Linda, his ceaselessly charming wife of 56 years, have 
three children--Ross, Lora, and Jeremy--and seven grandchildren. Johnny 
has always sought to put his family first and he is proud of everything 
that his children and grandchildren have accomplished. He and his 
family are longtime members of Ramer Baptist Church, where he has 
served many years as an Ordained Deacon, Music Director, and Sunday 
School Teacher.
  Johnny has done an outstanding job serving the people of Tennessee 
and this nation through his volunteer work and his professional career 
of public service, and it has been an honor and a privilege to have him 
as a member of my staff.
  On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I'm proud to 
congratulate Johnny Blakely on his retirement and to express our 
gratitude for his lifelong commitment to his community and his 18 years 
of faithful and diligent service to the people of Tennessee's Seventh 
Congressional District.

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