[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8652]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 8652]]

     TRIBUTE TO HOUSTON COUNTY LEGISLATOR JOSEPH SHERRILL STAFFORD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SAXBY CHAMBLISS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2000

  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to a great American 
and Georgian, Joseph Sherrill Stafford, who died Tuesday, May 9, 2000.
  Mr. Stafford was an inspiration to all of us. As a leader and public 
servant, he believed strongly in doing what's right, and always gave 
100 percent of himself to the people of Houston County, placing his 
faith in the Lord, his family, and his country. He will be greatly 
missed by the people of Georgia and his accomplishments will be long 
remembered.
  Mr. Stafford was a graduate of Perry High School and married the 
former Ann Hallman of Bibb County, Georgia, in 1961. He served in the 
Army, from 1954-1956, and retired from Robins Air Force Base in 1989 
after 30 years. He began his political career more than four decades 
ago as the mayor of Centerville, Georgia. Mr. Stafford was the first 
full-time chairman of the Houston County Commission, beginning in 1991, 
served as Chairman of the 21st Century Partnership, the community 
support group for Robins Air Force Base, taught Sunday school at First 
Baptist Church of Centerville, and just recently was named president of 
the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia.
  Mr. Speaker, I had the distinct pleasure of working very closely with 
Mr. Stafford on many projects. During his long and enduring career, Mr. 
Stafford always remembered the ones he represented in a smooth, 
soothing and effective manner. Mr. Stafford was proud of the new 
courthouse and jail under construction near Perry, Georgia and will 
long be remembered in my mind, and the people of Georgia as an honest, 
hard working, servant of his constituents and his country.
  I will miss Sherrill Stafford as a public servant, but I will miss 
him even more as a good friend.

                          ____________________