[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15639]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 HONORING THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE GEORGE R. GROSSE OF JACKSONVILLE, 
                                FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANDER CRENSHAW

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2016

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of The 
Honorable George R. Grosse. We in Jacksonville, Florida, mourned Mr. 
Grosse's passing after 86 years of life on June 3, 2016.
  Born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1930, George dedicated his life to 
his faith, his family and his community. He graduated from Baldwin High 
School and was a lifelong resident of Jacksonville's Westside. George 
became an accomplished businessman, a successful law enforcement 
official, and a public servant who enjoyed a reputation for honesty, 
fair dealings, and a strong Christian faith. He was a member of 
Westside Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon for more than 25 
years.
  George always held an entrepreneurial spirit, a strong work ethic, 
and the American Dream in his heart. He started a chicken farm and 
later became a journeyman carpenter. Then in 1957, George joined the 
Duval County Road Patrol as a Deputy Sheriff. In 1968, he was elected 
President of the Duval County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge Number 
30. Then, when the city and the county consolidated, he was elected as 
the first President of the consolidated FOP Lodge Number 5-30 and was 
selected as Officer of the Year for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. 
He continued to serve as FOP President until he left JSO in 1970 to 
devote his full attention to Gateway Concrete Contractors, Inc., a 
concrete business he founded and which he ultimately grew to be the 
largest concrete contractor of its day in Northeast Florida.
  In 1973, George was elected to the Florida House of Representatives 
for District 15. He represented West Duval County, as well as all of 
Baker, Nassau and Union counties for three terms. I had the privilege 
of serving with him in the State House for several years and considered 
him a valued friend and colleague. George resigned his seat in 1977, 
when President Jimmy Carter appointed him as the U.S. Marshall for the 
Middle District of Florida, a role he served in until 1982. Later he 
was appointed by Mayor Jake Godbold to the Jacksonville Electric 
Authority Board of Directors and was, subsequently, elected Board 
Chairman.
  George was a role model to many and a well-respected leader of our 
community. He was recognized on several occasions for his active role 
in the leadership of the Boy Scouts of America's Great Northern 
District. In addition, he maintained an active role and presence in 
local politics his entire life. Each year, George and his wife Corene 
hosted a bar-be-que at their farm in support of my candidacy for 
Congress. I was never sure if people came out to see me or George. He 
dedicated his life to the service of others and his generosity of 
spirit and warm affability endeared him to his family, his friends and 
his neighbors. I send my heartfelt condolences to his family and join 
with all of Jacksonville in mourning our loss.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in celebrating the outstanding life 
of one of Florida's and Jacksonville's most outstanding citizens, The 
Honorable George R. Grosse.




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