[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 24494]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF JOHN T. GARRISON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to talk about a lifelong 
dedicated public servant and friend who has recently passed away. I am 
referring to John T. Garrison, Sr. To his family and friends he was 
simply known as Tom.
  Tom was the only mayor that the town of Badin, North Carolina, has 
known since its incorporation in 1990. Tom was extremely active in day-
to-day operations of the town and with little or no dissent could be 
described as the number one advocate for this small Stanly County 
community.
  In addition to guiding the town of Badin, Tom was also active on 
numerous boards and commissions throughout the region. Tom served in 
leadership roles with the Stanly County Visitor and Tourism Bureau, the 
Rural Planning Organization for Stanly, Anson and parts of Union 
counties, the Yadkin Pee Dee Lakes Project, the Badin Museum and the 
Better Badin Committee, and the League of Municipalities.
  Prior to entering elected public service, Tom served his community in 
several other ways. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and past chapter 
president of his local Rotary Club in Albemarle, North Carolina. Tom 
was also an active member of the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce, 
Stanly County 2000 Committee, and maybe most importantly, Tom was an 
active member of the Committee of Boy Scout Troop 82.
  Mr. Speaker, this great American answered the call to public service 
at an early age. As a young man, he entered military service and 
distinguished himself among his peers by earning a battlefield 
commission, the Silver Star, and numerous other awards and honors as he 
served his nearly 2 years in the European Theatre of Operations during 
World War II. Upon returning home, Tom served for 20 additional years 
in the North Carolina National Guard.
  Mr. Speaker, most of us would consider that life to be full and 
complete, but not for Tom. Tom was married to his wife, Anne, until her 
passing, and brought up three children, Ellen, John, Jr., and Lenora, 
who combined have five children of their own. Tom also earned a college 
degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a 
successful professional in the real estate and insurance industries as 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, as you can see, Tom was extremely dedicated to his 
family, his community, and our Nation. Mr. Speaker, Tom Garrison 
embodied the great American pride and spirit that we all desire. He 
worked tirelessly along with his twin brother, Jim, who was very active 
in State and local politics, in an effort to create hope, opportunity, 
and prosperity for the people in his community, region, and State.
  Mayor Tom Garrison will be remembered by all for his constant 
championing on behalf of his constituents and his willingness to 
dedicate his life to public service. I am proud to call Tom a friend 
and a neighbor, and I deeply regret his passing.
  Tom, like many other champions around the Nation, did not seek public 
recognition for his efforts. He simply wanted to make the lives of the 
people in his community the best they could be.

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