[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14196]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                        TRIBUTE TO BRUCE FARMER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2006

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute 
to Mr. Bruce J. Farmer, Sr., a remarkable man who passed away on June 
28. I also respectfully request unanimous consent to insert the printed 
version of a eulogy for Mr. Farmer.
  Mr. Farmer, a resident of Galveston, Texas, was a husband, father of 
four sons, entrepreneur, and community leader. Mr. Farmer's career 
exemplifies the best features of American capitalism. Mr. Farmer was 
CEO of Farmer's Copper Ltd., which he founded in 1978 as Farmer's 
Copper and Industrial Supply. Under his leadership, Farmer's Copper 
Ltd. grew into one of the nation's largest privately owned copper and 
brass distributors, employing approximately 185 people in Galveston. 
Mr. Farmer began working in the metal fabrication business at the age 
of 14, when he went to work for Farmer's Marine Copper Works, an 
engineering and fabrication firm founded by his father and uncle. Mr. 
Farmer was also CEO of the Four Winds Investments and a director of 
Moody National Bank
  Mr. Farmer first demonstrated his commitment to serving his community 
and country at the age of 16 when he enlisted in the U.S. Merchant 
Marines in order to serve his country at the height of World War II. 
Throughout his life, Mr. Farmer did not allow the demands of growing 
his business to distract him from becoming involved in various local 
and national organizations. For example, he served on the Methodist 
Foundation Board and on other boards of the Methodist Church. An avid 
outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, golfing, and skiing, Mr. Farmer 
also served as past President of the Galveston Propeller Club and 
received the Maritime Man of the Year award.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be able to pay tribute to this fine man, 
and I hope all my colleagues join me in sending my deepest condolences 
to his family. I hope Mr. Farmer's family is comforted by the knowledge 
that the whole community of Galveston joins them in mourning his 
passing.

                          ``My Beloved Sons''


                             Author Unknown

     There's a feeling apart
     In a father's heart
     For his son.

     A certain pride
     Down deep inside
     For this special one.

     When there are two
     Its twice come true
     And life grows richer still.

     A third little boy
     Is a brand new joy,
     And all seems perfect until;

     You add one more
     To make it four,
     And life takes on a new zest,

     To share life's joys
     With four little boys
     Is living at its best.

  Bruce kept that poem in his desk at work. I think that says a lot 
about the man and his philosophy. His family was part of his work and 
his work was part of his family. I have had the honor and privilege of 
working with Bruce for the past twenty-five years. Notice I said with 
and not for. No one worked for him.
  Everyone at Farmer's Copper is part of a team, part of the family. We 
all knew that there was not a job Bruce could not do, would not do or 
had not done. He was a man that led by example.
  Every morning he would make his rounds through the offices ostensibly 
to check on the staff and see how business was doing. The real reason 
was that he wanted to mooch hugs from all of the ladies.
  Bruce would also make his rounds through the warehouse. He would stop 
in the different departments to see how the equipment was running, how 
the men were doing and what the day's workload looked like. He would 
offer his opinion or make a suggestion and then tell them to ``carry 
on''. Funny, I never remember him mooching hugs down there.
  Bruce really valued his employees and truly treated them as family. 
There were dozens of times when he quietly and privately helped an 
employee through their personal tragedies and hardships. Me included.
  He always kept his door open and would gladly listen to any employees 
concerns, complaints or suggestions. Bruce always had time to help.
  Under his leadership, Farmer's Copper grew from a tiny almost 
afterthought division of Farmer's Marine into a leader of the metals 
industry. Farmer's Copper is known both nationally and internationally 
as the premier source for copper based metals.
  His unique vision and courage to stay on the forefront of 
technological advances in both equipment and material is what makes us 
a leader today and for the last twenty-five years.
  His willingness to invest in equipment, inventory and especially 
people has assured our success. His boundless energy and ever present 
optimism inspired us all. During industry downturns when others saw 
troubles, Bruce found opportunity. When everyone else was in the dark, 
Bruce found the light. That is how in a volatile and cyclical industry 
we have always prospered.
  On a personal note, I have lost one of my best friends, a fishing 
buddy and hunting partner. But most of all, I've lost my second father. 
I have known Bruce all of my life. The older we got, the closer we got. 
He meant more to me than words can say. And I know without a doubt that 
he felt the same towards me.
  That's how it was with Bruce. When you were his friend, you felt it 
deep down in your heart. And if you were not his friend, that just 
meant that you had not met him yet.
  I guess the highest honor he gave me was when I became a member of 
the ``Old Fart Hunting Club.'' Every year on the second weekend of deer 
season Bruce would round up the ``Old Farts'' and we head out to the 
Rock Island ranch.
  This group consisted of Bruce's oldest and dearest friends. Members 
included Buddy Benson, Jimmy Regan, Bill Glenn, Gene Morris and of 
course the late Nat Pepper. There were dozens of other honorary members 
who attended through the years. You always knew that things would get 
exciting when Joe Cantini made the trip. And you always had make sure 
there was just a little bourbon for when Kenneth Nance would drop by.
  Last year I was the only participant under retirement age that had 
not had a heart attack. The trips were exciting for me every year. 
Sitting around the fire or on the front porch with these guys have been 
some of the best times of my life. Listening to stories of their past: 
the obstacles faced, the friends lost and the achievements accomplished 
made me proud to be included. It also made me a better man. Of course 
some of the tales were pretty tall and then there was the always 
present practical jokes.
  I think my favorite included Nat. Nat always enjoyed his Saturday 
night bath. As the story goes, one such night Bruce called out to Nat 
that he had drawn a bath for him. Nat thanked him and proceeded to the 
giant old cast iron, clawed foot tub. After he disrobed and prepared to 
enter the tub he saw it. A small bass swimming in circles trying to 
find its way out.
  Bruce had caught the fish earlier and placed it in the tub. I don't 
know who was more shocked. Nat or the bass. Like the bass we must find 
our way now. Everyone here is a better person for having known Bruce. 
We as friends, family and coworkers must now ``carry on''.

                          ____________________