[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6054]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO JACK BUCKLES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 2003

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to pay tribute 
to Jack H. Buckles on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
  Jack was born in Watagua, Tennessee on March 12, 1923. He was raised 
in a strong Democrat family of eight sons and two daughters. Following 
the outbreak of World War II, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served 
aboard LCT 666, making numerous landings of soldiers and equipment on 
Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. After being honorably discharged at 
the end of the war, Jack returned to his home in Tennessee, where he 
became the first member of his family to attend college. On August 18, 
1947, he married Billie Roberta Leonard. Shortly after his marriage, 
Jack became a journeyman steamfitter, working on numerous Tennessee 
Valley Authority construction projects. In 1959, Jack moved his family 
to Frederick, Maryland.
  Jack joined the Steamfitters Union 602 in Washington D.C., where he 
served for more than 35 years with professionalism and commitment. 
Recognized for his exceptional skill in his craft, Jack was identified 
as one of the pool of select union members assigned to duties at the 
White House and other highly sensitive federal job sites. He supported 
the expansion of the medical and pension plans for the rank and file 
which today is recognized as one of the model union programs in the 
building trades in the District of Columbia.
  A long time resident of Frederick, Maryland, Jack has proven himself 
to be a pillar of his community, a strong leader in his church and 
active in numerous community and service organizations. A life long 
Democrat, Jack has devoted himself to working for the advancement of 
the Democrat Party and Democrat candidates at the local and state 
level. He has been a member of the Christian Church of Frederick for 
more than 30 years, where he was selected by the congregation to serve 
as a Church Deacon.
  Jack considers his family as his greatest achievement. A loving 
husband of over 55 years to Billie R. Buckles, they have one son, a 
daughter, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration that I recognize Jack H. 
Buckles before this body of Congress and this nation today. His 
contributions to his community, his church, and his family have been 
immeasurably beneficial in the lives of many.

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