[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12840]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JIM DOWNING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG LAMBORN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 31, 2012

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Jim Downing who 
will be celebrating his 100th birthday on August 22, 2013. Throughout 
his century of life, he loyally served the United States Navy, was a 
devoted husband and father and faithful to his Creator.
  He enlisted in the Navy in 1932, and was assigned to the USS West 
Virginia where he held a variety of roles onboard. On April 8, 1935 Jim 
gave his life to the Lord and vowed to follow Him wherever he was led. 
Jim was involved with original founders of The Navigators who discipled 
him and gave him the tools to evangelize to his whole ship and lead 
regular Bible studies onboard.
  A survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he helped rescue men from 
his ship and fight fires onboard. He later rose to the rank of 
Lieutenant, commanding his own ship the USS Patapsco. While at sea in 
1954 his ship was showered with the radio-active ash from the ``H'' 
bomb being tested at Bikini Atoll. He served as an advisor to the 
Brazilian Fleet in Rio de Janeiro and later became an assistant 
professor of Naval Science at the Merchant Marine Academy.
  Jim retired in 1956 with 24 years of service in the Navy and went to 
work for The Navigators for the next 22 years. During the years he 
served on The Navigator staff he held many capacities including, 
Divisional Director for Europe the Middle East and Africa with 
Headquarters in London, Vice President, Deputy to President Lorne 
Sarmy, and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
  Jim and his wife Morena were married for 68 years before her passing. 
He has authored two books, Meditation and Living Legacy, both of which 
have been very well received. He has spent over 78 years working for 
the Lord and being a disciple maker wherever he is located. While he 
retired from full-time ministry in 1983, he has not retired from 
teaching others about the Lord and is on the volunteer staff of The 
Navigators' Collegiate Ministry.
  To this day, Jim is investing in the lives of thousands of young 
people through personal discipleship and The Navigator's Collegiate and 
Military Ministry. I am greatly honored to help celebrate 100 years of 
life for a man who has been influential to so many communities around 
the world through his service and devotion to the Lord.

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