[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24415]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF JOHNNY CASH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JOHN BOOZMAN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 30, 2003

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H. Con. Res. 282, which 
pays tribute to the memory of legendary singer Johnny Cash, who was 
born in Kingsland, Arkansas.
  Johnny Cash grew up on a 20-acre cotton farm in Northeast Arkansas. 
Listening to his mother's folk songs, hymns, and hearing the workers in 
the fields, or the nearby railroad yards nurtured his love for music. 
The plight of the workingman and downtrodden would remain a central 
theme to his music throughout his rise to become one of the most 
influential country singers of the 20th century.
  His experiences of the dark side of life, through drugs, alcohol, bad 
luck, and poverty have been very popular. He used his songs, books, 
movies and television to grab the attention of the world.
  Johnny Cash remained an Arkansan by heart throughout his entire 
career, never forgetting the importance of his faith, his family, and 
his roots. In 1969, he worked closely with Arkansas Governor Winthrop 
Rockefeller to show the nation that prisons were not a lost cause and 
living conditions must be improved. At the Governor's request he 
performed at Cummins Prison in Grady, Arkansas, to a live audience, 
along with his wife, the Statler brothers, Carl Perkins, and many more. 
In 1990, when devastating flood hit Arkansas farmers he was quick to 
jump to action. As a member of the country quartet, the Highwaymen, he 
persuaded the group to begin their new tour in Little Rock, Arkansas. 
They raised thousands of dollars for the farmers' recovery.
  An eleven-time Grammy winner, Johnny Cash was recognized and honored 
by his native state of Arkansas. He won the Arkansas Broadcasters 
Association ``Arkansan of the Year'' Award and was given the 
Entertainers Award and the President's Award from the Arkansas 
Entertainers Hall of Fame. Johnny Cash is a country music legend and 
will always have a special place in the hearts of many worldwide, but 
none more than in the hearts of his fellow Arkansans.

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