[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15527-15528]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF JACK M. FARMER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 17, 2009

  Mr. SHULER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Jack 
M. Farmer, a distinguished member of our Western North Carolina 
community. Mr. Farmer dedicated his life to benefitting his community, 
and it was with great communal sadness that we mourned Mr. Farmer when 
passed away on September 26, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Nancy 
Leming Farmer, his sons, Bruce Alan Farmer and Phillip Marlowe Farmer, 
and 6 grandchildren.
  Mr. Farmer was born on July 8, 1957 in Haywood County, North 
Carolina. A graduate of the Florida School of Forestry, he went on to 
serve as the District Ranger of North Carolina District 9 for 37 years. 
Because of his outstanding service, Mr. Farmer was awarded the Order of 
the Long Leaf Pine in 2000 by Governor Jim Hunt. The Order of the Long 
Leaf Pine is one of the most prominent awards presented by the Governor 
of North Carolina, only available to those who have dedicated over 30 
years of service to the state.

[[Page 15528]]

  In addition to his forestry service, Mr. Farmer was actively involved 
in his community. He was instrumental in the establishment of Pinnacle 
Park, an 1,100 acre public park filled with frequently used hiking 
trails. Mr. Farmer also served on the Jackson County Green Ways 
Committee, on the Board of Directors of Cullowhee Fire Department, and 
as the President of the Jackson County Habitat for Humanity. 
Additionally, Mr. Farmer worked with Jackson County Housing to 
construct elderly housing and with the Jackson County Department on 
Aging to build access ramps for the disabled elderly. He was also an 
active member of the First Baptist Church of Sylva since 1965, where he 
often served as a Deacon.
  I am proud to have had Mr. Farmer as a constituent. I extend my 
condolences to his family and offer my most sincere appreciation for 
his service to North Carolina.

                          ____________________