[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 1770]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING DAVID LEE THOMAS, SR.

 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
David Lee Thomas, Sr. of Mobile, AL, who passed away on January 22, 
2015. He and I were friends for many years. I first got to know him 
when I was a young Assistant U.S. attorney in Mobile and he was already 
a proven and respected Federal law officer. He had been hired as the 
first African-American investigator in the southeast region, with the 
office of inspector general, U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was 
investigating fraud by stores and businesses that were buying food 
stamps for cash or carrying on other unlawful activities. One of the 
highlights of his career with the OIG was receiving a letter from 
President Ronald Reagan for solving a fraud case which saved the U.S. 
Government $10 million. During that time, we worked a number of cases 
together. Several went to trial, and he taught me a great deal about 
law, trials, and how fraud and abuse occur.
  David retired from the OIG in 1990, but that retirement lasted all of 
6 months. He began working at the Mobile Drug Coalition, and from there 
he began the second most rewarding career when he became the assistant 
director of the Mobile County Community Corrections Center. In that 
role, he established the Court Police Department and helped develop the 
Mobile County Drug Court Program, which was the first of its kind in 
Alabama.
  David loved his community and was involved in many organizations to 
make Mobile a better place to live. He was also very active in his 
church. He was a great law enforcement officer, citizen, friend, and 
devoted father and grandfather. This Nation has many excellent Federal 
employees and officials. David was one of the best. His record speaks 
for itself. I extend my sympathy to his friends and family.

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