[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11645]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING JOHN EDD THOMPSON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM 
                           WALA-TV ``FOX10''

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2009

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with both pride and pleasure that I 
rise today to honor the career of Mobile's beloved television weather 
anchor, John Edd Thompson.
   A native of Mobile, John Edd is perhaps the most recognized name and 
face in television weather along the Gulf Coast. He has been a fixture 
on Mobile's WALA-TV ``Fox10'' for over three decades and, during this 
time, he has been the trusted source of information for every major 
storm. John Edd has tracked and reported on Hurricanes Frederic, Elena, 
Andrew, Opal, Erin, Danny, Georges, Ivan, and Katrina.
   Since Mobile's Press-Register introduced its Readers' Choice Awards 
in 2002, John Edd has always placed first in the final results. He was 
named ``Readers' Choice Local TV Weather Reporter'' in the 2002, 2003, 
2004, 2005, and 2006 competitions, and the Mobile Press Club has named 
him the ``Best Weather Anchor'' several times.
   In recognition of his remarkable accomplishments, The Press Club of 
Mobile awarded John Edd its 2005 John Harris Achievement Award, an 
award presented to a member of the news media ``who has made a 
consistently excellent contribution over a period of time.'' The Mobile 
County Commission recently declared 2009 as ``The Year of John Edd.''
   A prolific songwriter, John Edd is one of the founding members of 
the Mobile Songwriters. He is a member of the Nashville Songwriters 
Association International and a member of the board of the Frank Brown 
Songwriters Festival. John Edd also wrote the fight song for the 
University of South Alabama.
   Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a 
dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout Alabama. On 
behalf of all those who have benefited from his good heart and generous 
spirit, permit me to extend thanks for his many efforts in making 
Mobile and south Alabama a better place. John Edd Thompson is an 
outstanding example of the quality of individuals who have devoted 
their lives to the field of broadcast journalism.
   On behalf of a grateful community, I wish him the best of luck in 
all his future endeavors.

                          ____________________