[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 135 (Friday, August 12, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF MAYOR JIM DURRETT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARK E. GREEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 12, 2022

  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Mayor Jim Durrett for his distinguished career in service to the people 
of Montgomery County, Tennessee.
  Mayor Durrett is truly a man of Montgomery County. It is there that 
he was born and raised, there that he and his wife raised their 3 
children, there that he attends church, and there that he lives today. 
Both of his parents were public servants in the County; his father 
served 26 years on the Clarksville City Council and his mother worked 
the election polls for as long as he could remember. Public service is 
in his blood.
  He began his career early in life, shoveling asphalt for the City of 
Clarksville while attending Clarksville High School. He attended Austin 
Peay State University in Montgomery County, and upon graduation, he 
started work full-time for the City of Clarksville. He served as the 
Director of Streets for 20 years, later becoming Chief of Staff for the 
City.
  Mayor Durrett was elected by the people of Montgomery County in 
August 2014, though it was not an easy first term. Within months of his 
election, Hemlock Semiconductor announced they were pulling out their 
$1.2 billion facility--a sharp blow to the community. Within one year 
of this notice, however, and after much hard work by Mayor Durrett and 
his team, Google announced their plans to move to Montgomery County. 
Since then, LG, Shinhung, and Pantos have all joined Google.
  His tenure as Mayor has undoubtedly improved the lives of Montgomery 
County residents. From projects such as the Downtown Commons, a public 
field in the middle of downtown Clarksville, to the ongoing F&M Bank 
Arena, Mayor Durrett's vision for the County is coming alive. From just 
2019 to today, Mayor Durrett's efforts have added or announced 6,700 
new jobs in the County, amounting to $2 billion in capital investment.
  As a veteran myself, I am especially grateful for Mayor Durrett's 
leadership in support of our servicemembers. Montgomery County has a 
large population of servicemembers and veterans, due to the location of 
Fort Campbell. Under his leadership, the County was 1 of only 7 
communities worldwide to be recognized with an Army Community 
Partnership Award.
  Mayor Durrett embodies what it means to be a servant-leader in one's 
community. Through over 31 years of public service, and 8 years as 
County Mayor, Jim Durrett's career is an example to us all. It is 
fitting that we honor him as he concludes a long and effective career. 
On behalf of the United States Congress, I congratulate Mayor Durrett 
on the occasion of his retirement and thank him for his service to the 
people of Montgomery County.

                          ____________________