[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF BOBBY GENE HICKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVID DAVIS

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 16, 2007

  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to Bobby Hicks, a resident of the First Congressional District 
of Tennessee, who passed away January 7, 2006 after an extended 
illness.
  Bobby Hicks lived his entire life in the beautiful hills of East 
Tennessee and spent his adult life in a career of entrepreneurship and 
public service for the area he called home. A graduate of Sulphur 
Springs High School, Bobby worked on the farm at an early age, learning 
to appreciate the value of hard work. He served in the Army Reserve and 
worked for the Tennessee Eastman Company until choosing to begin his 
own business, the Hicks Construction Company, in 1970.
  His career in construction was distinguished, where he served on the 
Johnson City Area Home Builders Association. He was president of the 
association in 1983 and 1984. He also served as president of the Home 
Builders Association of Tennessee in 1990. On two separate occasions, 
he was named Builder of the Year, winning the prestigious honor in 1988 
and 1994. In 2002, he was inducted into the Building Industry of 
Tennessee Hall of Fame and continued to be actively involved in 
business into his final days.
  Bobby also served our area with distinction, serving 12 years as a 
county commissioner for Washington County. He was a member of the 
Washington County/Johnson City Chamber of Commerce and the Economic 
Development Board serving the same region.
  From 1994 to 1998, Bobby was elected to serve the constituents of the 
Sixth House District of Tennessee as their State representative. He was 
a relentless advocate of promoting the interests of Upper East 
Tennessee during his time in the legislature, and I was privileged to 
be his successor to that seat.
  Bobby's service to the community has been noted and appreciated. The 
library in Gray, TN, and the local Emergency Medical Service buildings 
have been named in his honor. In addition, one of the major State 
highways in our area, Highway 75, has been named as the Bobby Hicks 
Highway by the Tennessee General Assembly, as a result of his tireless 
efforts to gain the approval for necessary upgrades to this well-
traveled road.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me this evening in offering 
our sympathies to the family and friends of Bobby Hicks. He was a good 
businessman, a fine public servant, and a decent and kind person. His 
service is greatly appreciated, and he will be deeply missed.

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