[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17446]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATION OF LIFE: THE LATE JASON EDWARD JUSTICE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, George S. Patton, 
Jr. said ``It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we 
should thank God that such men lived.'' For that reason, on September 
29, 2010 we did not mourn Jason Edward Justice Jr's death; rather we 
celebrated his life.
  Jason was born on March 20, 1955, in Galveston, Texas. He was 
inspired to study hard and prepare himself for college. He attended La 
Marque Independent School District. He was a great athlete which 
enabled him to receive full college scholarship. He graduated in 1977 
from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.
  He parlayed this degree into a career of public service as Chief of 
Staff to Texas State Senator Royce West and me when I served in the 
Texas Senate. In addition, his more than three decades of state service 
included working for Ann Richards when she was the Texas Comptroller 
and with the Texas Employment Commission.
  Jason was involved with many organizations such as the Coalition of 
Black Trade Unions, the American Federation of State, County and 
Municipal Employee Union, the AFL-CIO and the National Association for 
the Advancement of Colored People. His integrity and excellent service 
earned him various awards.
  Jason was devoted to his wife, Janis DeGrate Justice, and to his 
family. In addition to Janis, he is survived by his children, Jason 
Justice, III, Christopher Justice, Derek D. Smith and Barbie Smith.
  Many of us in Texas knew and admired Jason Justice. I valued his 
friendship and advice, as did so many others, and we will greatly miss 
him. It is impossible to fully grasp the breadth and depth of a life of 
someone like Jason, who gave every project or responsibility his very 
best effort and who lived his life with boundless enthusiasm and 
compassion. He was a role model and mentor to so many, and he leaves a 
powerful legacy that will last for generations to come.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in memory and in honor 
of this great American, dedicated public servant, and truly great man--
Jason Justice. We will not mourn that he has left us behind; rather we 
will rejoice what he has left behind.

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