[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 121 (Thursday, July 25, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E773-E774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING JOHN POWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 25, 2024

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated 
husband, loving father, respected executive, committed man of faith, 
and friend of longstanding, John T. Powell. After 38 years of dedicated 
service to the peanut industry and agriculture industry as a whole, he 
will retire as the Executive Director of the American Peanut Shellers 
Association and Institute. An event to celebrate his remarkable career 
will be held on August 20, 2024, at the Doublegate Country Club in 
Albany, Georgia
  John Powell has truly been a stalwart in the Peanut Industry for over 
five decades. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Auburn 
University. He also graduated from the institutes of Organizational 
Management at the University of Georgia and the University of Notre 
Dame. His educational achievements prepared him to make a difference in 
the lives of peanut shellers, farmers, producers and professionals 
across the world.
  During his time as the Executive Director of the American Peanut 
Shellers, John helped to found the Peanut Institute and the U.S. Peanut 
Federation. These two entities have helped to promote the interests of 
the peanut industry throughout the United States and the world. 
Moreover, John has worked on eight farm bills during his life, always 
advocating for those who he represented. Since 2001, John, in 
association with the National Peanut Board, has helped to steer more 
than 36 million dollars to food allergy research, outreach and 
education. Earlier this year, because of his significant contributions 
to the Peanut Industry, John was inducted into the American Peanut 
Council Hall of Fame.
  It has been said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space 
that we occupy here on this earth.'' John has paid his rent, and he has 
paid it well. In addition to his responsibilities as Executive 
Director, his other professional affiliations include serving as the 
President of the Peanut Institute Foundation, The American Peanut 
Council, The American Peanut Export Council Committee, The American 
Society of Executives and the Georgia Society of Association 
Executives.
  But John's service has extended beyond the peanut industry. He has 
served as a former Board Member and Executive Committee Member of the 
Albany-Dougherty Chamber of Commerce. He is also a former president of 
the Albany Museum of Art. The community affiliation of which John is 
probably the proudest is his affiliation as Vice Chair and board member 
of the Friends of Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.
  John has accomplished much in his life but none of it would have been 
possible without the love and support of his devoted wife of 52 years, 
Mary; his children, Ben and Emily; and his four grandchildren, Evan, 
Zoey, Zack and Bella
  On a personal note, John has been my friend of longstanding and close 
advisor on all things relative to the peanut industry during my time in 
Congress. He never told me what I wanted to hear, but he always told me 
what he felt I needed to hear. I will forever be grateful for his 
advice, counsel, and friendship.

[[Page E774]]

  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife Vivian and the 
more than 765,000 people of Georgia's 2nd Congressional District in 
honoring the remarkable career of John Powell as an extraordinary 
advocate for America's peanut industry and service to his community. 
May God continue to bless him and his family as he moves to the next 
chapter of his remarkable life.

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