[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1766]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING CONGRESSMAN THOMAS JEFFERSON BARLOW III

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JAMES COMER

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 2, 2017

  Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
Thomas Jefferson Barlow III, a former member of this honorable body, 
who died Tuesday January 31, 2017, at the age of 76.
   Mr. Barlow, a Democrat, represented the citizens of Kentucky's 1st 
Congressional District from January 3, 1993, until January 3, 1995. He 
was not a typical politician. In 1992, he defeated a nine-term 
incumbent in what was one of the country's biggest upsets of that 
political cycle. He was outspent in that campaign by more than 4 to 1 
and won because of his hard work and downhome, face-to-face campaign 
style. He narrowly lost his reelection bid in the Republican wave of 
1994.
   Mr. Barlow was a tremendous public servant who had a positive impact 
on thousands of people. He was dedicated to making lives better but 
never sought fame or glory. He got satisfaction out of having his voice 
heard and influencing public policy.
   He was born in Washington, D.C., but his family roots ran deep in 
Ballard County, Ky., where his ancestor and name sake, Thomas Jefferson 
Barlow, was an original settler in the town of Barlow. He grew up in 
Chevy Chase, Maryland and graduated from Sidwell Friends School in 
Washington, D.C. He received a degree in history from Haverford College 
near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
   In his political career and private life, he worked tirelessly to 
help the less fortunate, create jobs, improve the environment and 
improve education. His professional career included work in state 
government, as a business executive, a banker and as a consultant for 
the Natural Resources Council from 1972 until 1983 when he returned to 
his family roots in western Kentucky.
   Although he lost his reelection bid in 1994, he was not discouraged 
and continued to make his voice heard by running additional races for 
the House and the U.S. Senate. In fact, Mr. Speaker, he used the same 
vehicle in all of his campaigns and its speedometer topped 400,000 
miles when it finally wore out after 13 years. He was always outspoken 
and stood up for that he felt was right, even if it was in opposition 
to the views of his political party.
   He lived with his wife of 28 years, Shirley Pippin Barlow, in 
Paducah, Kentucky, where he was a former director of the River City 
Mission, which helped homeless get on their feet, and the Lone Oak 
Kiwanis Club. He also was an active member of Grace United Methodist 
Church in La Center, Kentucky.
   In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Allison 
Barlow Ochshorn of New York; a son, Thomas J. Barlow IV of Michigan; 
grandchildren, Nora Barlow and Rose Barlow who live in England, Tessa 
Ochshorn and Sarah Ochshorn both of New York; a sister, Henrietta 
Friedholm of Michigan; a brother, William Barlow of Colorado; step-
children, Gerri Clark of Paducah, Elaine Duke of Tennessee, Edward 
Yancy of Kentucky; step-grandchildren, Chad Clark of Kentucky, Brandon 
Duke of Tennessee, Eliza Clark of Kentucky, and Wesley Duke of 
Tennessee.
   Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Milner & Orr 
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Paducah, Kentucky, with Rev. 
Jamie Curtis and Pastor Charles Moore officiating. Burial will follow 
at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday 
at the funeral home.

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