[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JOHN A. GARRETT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate, pay tribute, 
and honor a great American on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
  John A. Garrett turns 100 years old this Sunday, May 10th. The 
Governor of Alabama has declared this Sunday John A. Garrett Day in the 
State, and the mayor of Montgomery has done the same in our State's 
capital city.
  I want to join in sharing my best wishes with those loved ones and 
friends who will be sharing in this, celebrating the milestone on 
Sunday in Snowdoun, Alabama.
  John A. Garrett, born on May 10, 1909, was the fourth from the oldest 
of 10 children. He is the last surviving sibling in his family.
  John A, as he is affectionately called by his friends, attended 
Auburn University, which was then called the Alabama Polytech 
Institute. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1936. 
There, he met the love of his life, Ms. Katherine Stowers, whom he 
married that same year. They have two daughters, Mary John, and Kitty 
Walter.

                              {time}  1630

  John A. is one of those type individuals that when you meet him, you 
can't help but like him. He has received numerous awards and 
acclamations throughout his career. John A. was quite a multitasker 
during his career, which spanned many decades, in various lines of 
work, whether it was during the Second World War as he served in the 
Corps of Civil Engineers or as the State director of the Farmers Home 
Administration, where he served both during President Nixon's and 
President Ford's administrations.
  John A. was also a gentleman farmer and served at the Alabama Farm 
Bureau. He also did work in construction. And at the age of 76, he 
founded the Alabama Rural Water Administration, which he served for 17 
years. But of all the things John A. is known for, probably his great 
storytelling ranks among the top.
  So, Mr. Speaker, on this momentous occasion of reaching a century 
mark, which very few people get the opportunity to celebrate, I wish 
this great American all the best, many more years to come, and 
happiness and God's blessing to him and his family.

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