[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2738]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF JAMES B. BLASINGAME

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 2010

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, today I congratulate James B. 
Blasingame on his retirement from the Alaska Railroad. Mr. Blasingame 
started at the Alaska Railroad at age 35 starting as a programmer. He 
has moved up through the company culminating his career as Vice 
President of Corporate Affairs. In 1985, Mr. Blasingame was appointed 
by the Alaska Railroad as the Federal coordinator where he oversaw the 
transfer of the Federally-owned Alaska Railroad to the State of Alaska.
  The Alaska Railroad has been an outstanding organization in Alaska 
promoting expansion and economic development throughout the state. I 
commend Mr. Blasingame and his tireless effort within the company to 
improve the railroad's operations, facilities and safety performance. 
Not only do I want to commend him on his work, I would also like to 
applaud the amount of time he spent volunteering on a number of non-
profit, civic boards and organizations, including Providence Hospital, 
Anchorage School Business Partnership, World Trade Center of Alaska and 
Credit Union National Association.
  Today, I congratulate and recognize Jim on his retirement and years 
of service to Alaskan residents and the development of the Alaska 
Railroad and wish him good luck in the next chapter of life.
  Madam Speaker, I would also like to submit a resolution approved by 
the Alaska Railroad Board of Directors commending Jim for his service.

                           Resolution 2009-58

       Whereas, James B. Blasingame, at the young age of 35, began 
     his employment with the Alaska Railroad as a Programmer and 
     was later promoted to various positions including Supply 
     Analyst, Management Analyst, and Executive Administration 
     Director leading to his ascension in 1993 to Vice President 
     of Corporate Affairs; and
       Whereas, James B. Blasingame not only loves history, but 
     has helped to make history at the Alaska Railroad, by serving 
     as the State Manager of the Alaska Railroad Transfer Project 
     supporting the effort in the early 1980s to transfer the 
     Railroad from Federal to State ownership; and
       Whereas, James B. Blasingame has served as the Alaska 
     Railroad Board of Directors' Board Secretary since 1985, 
     managing corporate governance, policy development, government 
     and community relations, corporate asset oversight including 
     records preservation and philanthropy; and
       Whereas, throughout his tenure as Board Secretary and Vice 
     President Corporate Affairs for the Alaska Railroad, James B. 
     Blasingame was part of a team instrumental in qualifying the 
     Alaska Railroad for federal grants used to improve the 
     Railroad's operations, facilities and safety performance; and
       Whereas, James B. Blasingame has worked tirelessly to 
     mentor fellow railroaders, earning terms of endearment such 
     as ``Mother'', ``Dutch Uncle'', and ``Oracle'' and instilling 
     an understanding in all for our past and a commitment to our 
     future as a state-owned enterprise that safely operates on a 
     self-sustaining basis and supports the economic development 
     of our state; and
       Whereas, James B. Blasingame has served our Alaska 
     community through his volunteer time and efforts on a number 
     of non-profit, civic boards and organizations, including 
     Providence Hospital, Downtown Partnership, Association, 
     Anchorage School Business Partnership, World Trade Center of 
     Alaska, Alaska Credit Union League, Denali/Alaskan Federal 
     Credit Union, Credit Union National Association; and
       Therefore be it resolved, the Alaska Railroad Board of 
     Directors extends its most sincere appreciation to James B. 
     Blasingame for his long-standing dedication to the Alaska 
     Railroad and his distinctive leadership role in the 
     maturation of the Railroad into an award winning, world class 
     state-owned corporation; and
       Be it further resolved, that since James B. Blasingame has 
     invested countless hours toward the development of the Alaska 
     Railroad and because his dedication warrants permanent 
     recognition, the Alaska Railroad Corporation Board of 
     Directors hereby adopts this resolution renaming the Alaska 
     Railroad's Denali Board Room the ``James B. Blasingame Board 
     Room''.

                          ____________________