[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10259]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       TRIBUTE TO BEN TOM ROBERTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SONNY CALLAHAN

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 1999

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a friend and an 
important constituent from the First District of Alabama who will be in 
my office Thursday on the occasion of his 50th birthday.
  Ben Tom Roberts is the current president of the Alabama Association 
of Realtors (AAR). In addition, he is a principle in Roberts Brothers, 
Inc., a family-owned business that for more than 53 years has been 
serving the real estate needs of generations of south Alabamians.
  Ben Tom's motivation and inherent knowledge of the real estate 
industry has propelled him to one of the foremost leaders in his field. 
Not only is he co-owner of Mobile's largest real estate firm, he has 
also served as president of the Mobile Area Association of Realtors as 
well as state president of the Real Estate Securities and Syndication 
Institute. Clearly, real estate is in Ben Tom's blood and the real 
estate industry in Alabama is truly benefitting from his leadership, as 
well as his considerable experiences.
  In addition to Ben Tom's service to the industry, he is actively 
involved in the life of our community. From the American Cancer Society 
to the United Way, Ben Tom's philanthropy has truly spanned the 
alphabet. It is fair to say he has given generously of his time and 
talents in the service of his fellow man.
  In recent years, Ben Tom has held numerous leadership posts, serving 
as vice chairman of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce and past president 
of the Country Club of Mobile, the Chandler YMCA and the Metropolitan 
YMCA. In addition, he serves on many boards, including Southtrust Bank, 
the Old Overton Club and the Alabama Golf Association.
  Ben Tom, and his lovely wife Gale, are active members of St. Ignatius 
Catholic Church in Mobile, where he is serving as chairman of the 
Stephen Ministries. Mr. Speaker, as 50 candles light Ben Tom's birthday 
cake, I ask you to join me in congratulating him on his outstanding 
achievements in the real estate arena, and his support of charitable 
causes and community organizations in Mobile and throughout the state 
of Alabama.

                          ____________________