[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17459-17460]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO RALPH STACY, A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR ALABAMA BUSINESS

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I note 
the untimely passing of one of Alabama's most dedicated and talented 
boosters of economic development, not to mention a dear personal friend 
to me and countless others, Mr. Ralph Stacy.
  At a much-too-young age of 53, Ralph Stacy passed away on September 
14, 2010 in Montgomery, Alabama. At the time of his death, he was the 
Senior Vice President for Strategic Communications of the Business 
Council of Alabama (BCA) and Executive Director of The Partnership, a 
program which links the state's 120 local Chambers of Commerce with the 
BCA.
  The founding President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Association 
of Alabama, Ralph Stacy was unequalled in his ability to promote local 
business by building coalitions and utilizing effective communication 
strategies.
  A skilled communicator who possessed an extraordinary talent for 
salesmanship, Ralph Stacy received two national television and print 
marketing awards. He was an author, syndicated columnist and radio 
host.
  Ralph Stacy was a member of the BCA Board of Directors, Class Sixteen 
of Leadership Alabama, the Board of Troy University's Center for 
International Business and Economic Development, a Governor's appointee

[[Page 17460]]

to the Alabama Partnership for Children and was President of the Board 
of Directors of the Alabama Council of Association Executives. He was 
also a founding partner and executive committee member of the Alabama 
Community of Excellence (ACE) program.
  A former director of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Ralph Stacy 
was a native of nearby Georgiana, in south Butler County. He was a 
leader his entire life, earning the rank of Eagle Scout as a young man 
and going on to graduate from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, where 
he was a member of the golf team.
  Ralph Stacy was not only a skillful business leader, but a gifted 
story teller and even an ordained minister, shepherding the Beatrice 
Community Church in Monroe County, Alabama.
  Madam Speaker, I know I speak for everyone across our state who had 
the good fortune to know and work with Ralph Stacy that his death 
leaves a giant void in the fabric of Alabama.
  Ralph always put the interests of our people and our communities 
first. His friendship, warm personality and his tireless advocacy for 
Alabama jobs and prosperity will be deeply missed. There was but one 
Ralph Stacy and his leadership can never be replaced.
  On behalf of our state, I wish to extend our heartfelt sympathy to 
his wonderful wife, Angel, and their lovely daughter, Savannah, as well 
as Ralph's extended family for their loss. You are all in our prayers.

                          ____________________