[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23441]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO MR. JIM RABY

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                        HON. ROBERT B. ADERHOLT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor Jim D. Raby 
who is celebrating his 70th birthday. Jim is a man who embodies the 
American principles of hard work, dedication to one's family, and 
service to one's country and I am honored to stand before this body of 
Congress and this Nation to recognize this wonderful man and his many 
accomplishments.
  Jim was born on August 10, 1934 in the town of Jeff, Alabama. He grew 
up as a sharecropper in north Alabama, growing primarily cotton. He 
graduated from Monrovia High School in 1952 and briefly attended Andrew 
Jackson Business School in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1954, Jim joined 
the U.S. Navy and served his country honorably as a Seabee and as a 
Communications Technician.
  Following his discharge from the service, Jim began work in 
Huntsville, Alabama for the Army Ballistics Missile Agency (ABMA) as an 
electronic technician. There he had the distinction of working with the 
former German Rocket Team, including Dr. Werner Von Braun, during the 
infancy of the U.S. Space Program. In 1960, ABMA was transformed into 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Jim joined 
the new agency as a Charter Member. He worked on almost every phase of 
the Pegasus, Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab programs.
  Jim's contributions included development of specifications and 
standards for electronic manufacturing, specifically soldering and 
crimp terminations as well as cable and harnesses. He installed many of 
these cables and harnesses in the original Mercury capsule. Jim then 
established schools for each of these subjects and performed lead 
activities in the fabrication of electronics for the Saturn and Apollo 
programs. Jim moved to various contractor facilities (as a NASA 
employee) throughout the United States to provide NASA guidance on 
manufacturing methods and techniques as well as providing Quality 
Assurance functions. He had the last word on flight readiness of 
electronic and electrical installations and in troubleshooting these 
systems when problems arose. The Moon landing during the summer of 1969 
was the climax of this great era in Jim's life.
  Jim left NASA in 1975 to work for the U.S. Navy at China Lake, 
California. While at China Lake, Jim developed the Soldering 
Standardization Program which standardized requirements DoD-wide and 
the Solder Training and Certification Program. He also started the 
Electronic Manufacturing and Production Facility (EMPF).
  In 1984, Jim left the Navy to start Soldering Technology 
International, a family business in which he is still active. Soldering 
Technology International (STI) helps customers build more reliable 
electronic hardware. Under Jim's guidance, the company has twice been 
selected to INC Magazine's INC 500 list of fastest growing private 
companies. STI was also selected as Huntsville/Madison County's Small 
Business of the Year in the business services category for the year 
2000. STI currently employs 45 people and has customers in all 50 
states as well as 40 countries around the world.
  Of all Jim's achievements, he is most proud of his family--wife 
Ellen, son David, daughter-in-law Sheila, and beautiful granddaughter 
Ashley. He is also proud of the many friends and admirers that he has 
come to know over the years.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to honor Jim D. Raby for his 
many accomplishments and his enduring impact on his country, community 
and family. Jim has been and continues to be an inspiring role model 
for all of us, and I wish him the best of wishes on the occasion of his 
70th birthday.

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