[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15856]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN LAYSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT B. ADERHOLT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 25, 2006

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor State Representative 
Allen Layson on the occasion of his retirement from the Alabama House 
of Representatives. Allen is a man who embodies the American principles 
of hard work, dedication to one's family and service to one's country. 
I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation to 
recognize his many accomplishments.
  Allen was born on December 16, 1931 in Eatonton, Georgia. He 
graduated from Eatonton High School in 1947. He entered the United 
States Army Reserves in 1948 and volunteered for active duty service in 
1951 and was discharged in 1953. Immediately after leaving the Army, 
Allen attended the University of Georgia and earned a Bachelor of 
Science Degree in Forestry in just three years, graduating in 1956.
  Allen and his family moved to Pickens County in 1969, and he soon 
demonstrated his outstanding leadership to the Reform community. He 
served as president of the Reform Rotary Club, is the founder of the 
Reform Area Public Library, is a member of the American Legion, a 
member of the Pickens County Mental Health Association, a Master Mason, 
and a member of the Boy Scout Troop Committee.
  First elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1986, Allen 
has served the Sixty-First district with distinction for the past 
twenty years. During his tenure he was a strong proponent of our Second 
Amendment rights and worked hard to protect the family and our 
religious liberties. A social and fiscal conservative, he voted 
consistently to ensure that Alabama provided an economic atmosphere in 
which business and industry could grow and prosper.
  Allen is a true friend of the volunteer fire fighter. Through his 
efforts, a three mil revenue tax was enacted in 1999, and amended in 
2004, to provide badly needed funding to the volunteer fire departments 
in Pickens County. This funding allows the volunteer fire departments 
to purchase equipment, provide training and cover operating costs. This 
has greatly enhanced their firefighting capabilities, thus reducing 
insurance rates and thereby saving money for Alabama families.
  He served as a Commissioner on the Alabama Forestry Commission from 
1979 to 1983, served as president of the Alabama Division for the 
Society of American Foresters, is a Trustee of the Alabama Forest 
Products Workman's Compensation Fund, served as president and is a 
lifetime member of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, is a member of the 
Alabama Cattlemen's Association, a member of the Sierra Club and a 
member of sixteen volunteer fire departments. Also, Allen has served on 
the board of directors for the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Development 
Authority since his appointment by Governor Guy Hunt in 1991.
  He has been distinguished as the recipient of the Governor's 
Conservationist of the Year Award in Forestry in 1982, the Kelly Mosley 
Environmental Award in 1985 and the APA Southwestern United States 
Technical Writing Award in 1981.
  Of all of Allen's accomplishments, perhaps his greatest achievement 
was convincing the former JoAnn Kimberly to marry him. They were 
married on September 15, 1949 and are the proud parents of five 
children; Butch, Allen, Jr., Kim, James and Michael. Allen and JoAnn 
are faithful members of Reform First United Methodist Church where 
Allen has served as a Lay Leader and Lay Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to honor State Representative 
Allen Layson for his many achievements and his enduring impact on his 
country, state, community, friends and family. He is a man of great 
dignity and character who takes pride in the accomplishments of those 
he has helped over the years. Allen is an inspiring role model for all 
of us and I join his family, friends and colleagues in wishing him 
God's richest blessings in his retirement.

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