[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17699]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MR. JACK H. JONES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. I rise today to honor Mr. Jack H. Jones, who was 
recently elected Imperial Potentate of Shriners International, which 
makes him the highest-ranking Shriner in the world.
  I want to share with my colleagues, many of whom may be unfamiliar 
with the work of the Shriners, what they are all about. Shriners 
International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic 
principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. There are 
approximately 375,000 members from the 191 temples, or chapters, in the 
United States, Canada, Mexico, and Panama.

                              {time}  1745

  I am proud to be a Shriner and support their ongoing charitable 
efforts. Shriners International supports Shriners Hospitals for 
Children, a one-of-a-kind international health care system of 22 
hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing 
specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching 
programs. Since 1922, Shriners Hospitals for Children have 
significantly improved the lives of more than 865,000 children.
  Mr. Jones has been involved with Shriners for more than 30 years. He 
has served as Imperial Recorder, part of the body that governs the 
Shriners. Prior to his election to that position, he served on the 
Elected Divan of Egypt Shriners in Tampa, Florida. His Masonic 
affiliations include Egypt Shriners, Hillsborough Lodge No. 25 F.&A.M., 
Tampa York Rite, Tampa Scottish Rite, Red Cross of Constantine, Royal 
Order of Jesters, and National Sojourners. He also is a 33rd degree 
Scottish Rite Mason.
  Mr. Jones has earned many awards for his service with the Shriners, 
including the Benjamin Franklin Award for the Grand Lodge of 
Pennsylvania, the Henry Prince Medal from the Grand Lodge of 
Massachusetts, and the Andrew Jackson Medal from the Grand Lodge of 
Tennessee. In 2006, he was presented the Imperial Potentate Award of 
Merit, which is the highest honor in the Shriners fraternity.
  In his new position, the Imperial Potentate will serve as chairman of 
the Board of Directors for Shriners International and Shriners Hospital 
for Children. I am certain that his immeasurable talent and experience 
will greatly help the Shriners and the many people who benefit from 
their work.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage all of our colleagues to congratulate Mr. 
Jones on his election as Imperial Potentate and recognize the 
contributions that Shriners worldwide make to the betterment of our 
world.

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