Jo Bonner

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor the long and distinguished career of Chandler Bramlett, on the occasion of his retirement from Infirmary Health System. With a career spanning over 40 years, Chandler has served in administrative positions in healthcare facilities in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama. A native of Mobile and graduate of Murphy High School, Chandler received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Alabama in 1964 and an M.B.A. and Certificate in Hospital Administration from the University of Florida in 1996. After graduation and before his induction into military service, Chandler served as an administrative assistant with Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. Later that same year, he joined the U.S. Public Health Service Office in Atlanta where he worked as a health services officer at the Division of Medical Care Administration Regional Office. Two years later, he was named vice president of the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. In 1972, Chandler returned to Alabama as the administrator of Jackson County Hospital and Nursing Home in Scottsboro. Chandler joined the Mobile Infirmary in 1976, initially as administrator of its Rotary Rehabilitation Hospital. In 1978, he was named executive vice president. Five years later, he became president/ chief executive officer of Infirmary Health System, which today is the largest integrated healthcare delivery system in the Central Gulf Coast Region. Today, the Infirmary Health System is the fifth largest private sector employer in the state. It is the parent company of five hospitals and one nursing home in Mobile and Baldwin Counties with 1,300 licensed beds, including Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, the largest not-for-profit acute care hospital in Alabama. Under Chandler's leadership, the not-for-profit healthcare system was created, a comprehensive partnership with the University of South Alabama's Mitchell Cancer Institute was developed, and a scholarship program to train nurses was created. With more than three decades with the company, Chandler was the most senior healthcare executive serving in the state of Alabama at the time of his retirement in December 2008. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout Alabama. I know his family, his wife, Polly; their daughters, Louise, Susanne, Patricia, and Amanda; his many friends; and past and present Infirmary Health System employees join me in praising his accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the city of Mobile and the state of Alabama. Chandler will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with family and loved ones. On behalf of a grateful community, I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and indeed the entire state of Alabama, recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor the memory of Ray-Ray Russell. A native of Mobile, Ray-Ray graduated from Williamson High School in the Maysville community and earned a Bachelor's Degree in communication from Alabama State University. In 1996, Ray-Ray returned to Mobile and started working for WBLX-FM radio. He was host of the station's long-running radio show, ``The Gulf Coast Wake-up Party.'' For years, listeners across the central Gulf Coast tuned in every morning for Ray-Ray to help them start their day. He also broadcast Friday night high school football games for Comcast's Port City 6. However, Ray-Ray's contributions extended far beyond the airwaves. He started the Rolling Reader program, in which disc jockeys read to elementary school children. In fact, Ray-Ray read to Mobile and Baldwin County classes at least once a week. He also participated in a number of charity events. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout Alabama. Ray- Ray Russell was an outstanding example of the quality of individuals who have devoted their lives to the field of broadcast journalism, and at the age of 42, he was taken from us too soon. On behalf of all those who have benefited from his generous spirit, permit me to extend thanks for his many efforts in making Mobile and south Alabama a better place. Ray-Ray will be deeply missed by his family--his seven children and his seven brothers and sisters--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, Monroe County--and the entire State of Alabama--recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor Mrs. Abbie Powe Sessions and pay tribute to her memory. A native of Branch in Choctaw County, ``Miss Abbie'' had been a resident of Hybart in Monroe County for most of her adult life. She graduated from high school in Silas and studied at both Livingston State Teachers College and Troy State Teachers College. A few years ago, she moved into a retirement community in Mobile so she could be closer to her family. ``Miss Abbie'' was truly a steel magnolia. She was strong in her faith, devoted to her family and friends and a constant source of inspiration to all who knew and loved her. She was a homemaker and actively assisted her late husband, Jefferson B. Sessions Jr., in his country store and farm equipment business. Their only son, Senator Jeff Sessions, credits her hard work and frugality with instilling in him the value of a dollar and the importance of hard work. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a friend to many throughout south Alabama. Mrs. Abbie Powe Sessions will be dearly missed by her family--her son, Senator Jeff Sessions and his wife Mary; her three grandchildren, Mary Abigail Sessions Reinhardt, Ruth Blackshear Sessions Walk, and Samuel Turner Sessions; her great granddaughter, Jane Ritchie Reinhardt; her sister, Mary P. Powe; and her nephew, Harry A. Powe III--as well as the countless friends she leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the town of Winfield, Alabama recently lost two dear friends, and I rise today to honor Ezra Bonner ``Bud'' Carothers and Mary Lee Hill Carothers and pay tribute to their memory. A native of Marion County, Bud was a resident of the Winfield area most of his life. He graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery and attended the University of Alabama. He was in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Philippines, Peluloe and Saipan. Mary was also a native of Marion County. She graduated from Winfield High School and went on to attend Fairfax Hall College in Waynesboro, Virginia, as well as the University of Alabama. Loved by their family, respected by the entire community, Bud and Mary are perhaps best known for the Winfield Quick Freeze, a meat processing facility in Winfield that the couple owned and operated for almost four decades. They were also both active members of Winfield First United Methodist Church. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering two dedicated community leaders known to many throughout northwest Alabama. Ezra Bonner ``Bud'' Carothers and Mary Lee Hill Carothers will be dearly missed by their family--their sons, William Russell Carothers II and his wife Becky, and Robert Leroy ``Bubba'' Carothers and his wife Rebecca; their eight grandchildren, Melissa Carothers Beard, William Russell Carothers III, Christian Hill Carothers, Robert Leroy Carothers Jr., Brooks Reed Carothers, Ryan Lee Carothers, Julia Gardner, and Amanda Gardner; their eight great-grandchildren, Mary Kate Beard, Spencer Beard, Will Carothers, John Carothers, Nicholus Carothers, Elizabeth Carothers, Allie Carothers, and Caroline Carothers; and nieces and nephews--as well as the countless friends they have left behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and, indeed, the entire State of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor Elizabeth Ann Pittroff Copeland and pay tribute to her memory. Known to her many friends as Betty, she was a lifelong resident of Mobile. She graduated from The Visitation Monastery and was a lifelong member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. She married her husband of 58 years, Reggie Copeland Sr., just three days before he was sent to Germany with the U.S. Army in 1950. Betty's first priority was raising her children and later her grandchildren. She was known for seamstress skills and for being a prolific note-writer. Whenever she saw something in the newspaper about someone she knew, she would clip it out and send it to them with a personal note. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. Elizabeth Ann Pittroff Copeland will be dearly missed by her family-- her husband, Mobile City Council President Reggie Copeland Sr.; their five children, Reggie Copeland Jr., Randy Copeland and his wife Alison, Gayle Phillips and her husband Lee, Riley Copeland and his wife Penny, and Russ Copeland and his wife Leigh; their 12 grandchildren, Tre' Copeland, Ryder Copeland, Randall Copeland, Anna Copeland, Grace Copeland, Jordan Phillips, Will Phillips, Riley Phillips, Conrad Copeland, Cunningham Copeland, Madison Copeland, and Anderson Copeland; and her sister, Mary Ellen Ham and her husband Victor--as well as the countless friends she leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise today to honor Mrs. Eugenia Armbrecht on the occasion of her being named First Lady of Mobile. The Mobile chapters of Beta Sigma Phi, an international women's network with over 165,000 members, recently bestowed this honor on her. Known to her many friends as ``Gigi,'' she is a tireless volunteer and has devoted her entire life to improving the lives of countless people who call Mobile and south Alabama home. Gigi moved to Mobile from Galveston, Texas, just in time for her senior year at Murphy High School. Following graduation, she moved to Tuscaloosa where she attended the University of Alabama and received a bachelor's degree in education. She met her future husband, Conrad Armbrecht, in Tuscaloosa, and after graduation, they moved to Mobile where she began teaching first grade. She soon developed an interest in special education and began working on her first master's degree at the University of South Alabama. Gigi also began giving much of her time as a volunteer for Mobile United, and by 1988, she was a paid employee of the organization. Ten years later, she was recruited to join AT&T, and she now serves as manager of regional and external affairs for the company. Gigi was also honored this year as a distinguished University of South Alabama alumna and the Junior League of Mobile's Sustainer of the Year. Madam Speaker, I would like to offer my personal congratulations to Mrs. Eugenia ``Gigi'' Armbrecht for being named this year's First Lady of Mobile; truly, no one is more deserving of this high honor. And in so doing, I would also like to recognize Gigi for her lifetime of outstanding professional and philanthropic accomplishments; she is truly a role model for our entire community. Furthermore, I would ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating this respected and dedicated friend to many throughout south Alabama. I know Gigi's family; her husband, Conrad; their two wonderful children, Stewart and Amanda; her granddaughter and her many friends and other family join me in praising Gigi's accomplishments and extending thanks for her never-ending efforts to make south Alabama a better place to live and call home.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Dogwood Trail Maids for being selected to participate in this year's National Cherry Blossom Festival. Held annually, the Cherry Blossom festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo to the city of Washington and honors the lasting friendship between the United States and Japan. Today, more than a million people travel to Washington each year to see the blossoming cherry trees and attend events that signal the beginning of spring in our Nation's capital. For 49 years, the Dogwood Trail Pageant and Scholarship Program-- comprised of six high school girls from Baldwin County--complete nearly 200 hours of community service and make more than 50 appearances, including festivals, charity runs and ceremonies. The trail maids were even invited to both of Governor Bob Riley's Inaugural parades. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Dogwood Trail Maids for their participation in the 2009 National Cherry Blossom Festival. I know Baldwin County and indeed, the State of Alabama are so proud for these young ladies to travel to Washington and participate in the organization's first Cherry Blossom parade.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Jackson and, indeed, the entire State of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor J.W. Andrews, Jr., and pay tribute to his memory. Born in Prestwick, Alabama, Mr. Andrews married Ida Virginia Tiggs Andrews in 1937, and the two were married nearly 55 years when she died. He began his career as a machine operator at a veneer mill before becoming an insurance agent for Unity Burial Life Insurance Co. in the early 1950s. By the end of the decade, he had become manager of the company as well as of the accompanying Unity Funeral Home. In the mid- 1970s, Mr. Andrews and his wife purchased the funeral home, which became Andrews Funeral Home in 1986. The couple also owned Andrews Flower and Gift Shop. During the 1960s, Mr. Andrews became active in both politics and the civil rights movement in Clarke County. He traveled to various communities holding voter registration classes, helping familiarize residents with the voter questionnaire used by the Board of Registrars. He was also a longtime president of the Clarke County Voters League, an organization formed to promote and protect the voting rights of African Americans. Mr. Andrews was instrumental in the formation of several county commission and school board districts, which provided African Americans representation on those boards. In 1985, Mr. Andrews became one of the first two African Americans to be elected to serve on the Jackson City Council, a seat he held for 14 years. He was also the first African American to serve on the Clarke County Board of Education. In recognition of his many achievements, the city of Jackson honored Mr. Andrews by rededicating State Highway 177 from the end of Commerce Street to U.S. 43 as the ``J.W. Andrews Highway.'' In 1997, he was honored as the Civitan Club's 47th ``Citizen of the Year.'' Mr. Andrews was an active member of his church, St. Union Baptist Church in Jackson. He served as a deacon for more than 50 years as well as treasurer, Sunday school superintendent, and choir member. For more than 50 years, he served as host of the Sunday morning radio programs ``Spiritual Time'' and later ``Early Morning Gospel'' on WHOD-FM. He also served as an Alabama Democratic Conference chairman for more than 35 years. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. J.W. Andrews, Jr., will be dearly missed by his family--his children, William Wesley Andrews, Sr., Hattie Virginia Sampson, Carl Gregory Andrews, and Harriette Andrews Douglas; his sister, Jessie Mae Jackson; his 11 grandchildren; his 22 great-grandchildren; and his seven great- great-grandchildren--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise today to honor Mobile Mayor Sam Jones on the occasion of being named Mobilian of the Year for 2008 by the Cottage Hill Civitan Club. The Mobilian of the Year is the city's most prestigious civic honor, and Mayor Jones is most deserving of this award in recognition of his tireless efforts on behalf of the Port City. A native of Mobile, Mayor Jones graduated from Central High School in Mobile. He attended Florida Junior College and Jacksonville University in Florida before enrolling at the Alabama Interdenominational Seminary, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate. Mayor Jones started his career in the U.S. Navy where he served for nine years. He served on the USS Forrestal where he was a flight deck troubleshooter for A-7 aircraft, an equal opportunity officer, race relations education specialist, and community services coordinator. From 1980 until 1987, Mayor Jones was executive director of Mobile Community Action, Inc., where he oversaw a 240-person staff and a $5 million annual budget. He then served as a Mobile County Commissioner for four terms. In 2005, Sam Jones was elected as the first African American mayor of Mobile. Mobile's Press-Register recently editorialized that ``Mobile's first African American mayor has demonstrated to the nation that Mobile is a progressive and inclusive Southern city where all residents have the opportunity for public service.'' Mayor Jones is a man known for working 10-12 hour days, including weekends, and is rarely one to take a vacation. As captain of the city of Mobile, Mayor Jones has done yeoman's work helping to recruit several significant economic projects to Mobile, including the biggest economic development project in the history of our state, ThyssenKrupp's $4 billion state-of-the-art steel plant. Mayor Jones has an obvious love for Mobile. He has served as the past president of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama; a former member of the National Association of Counties Board of Directors; the National Association of Counties Election Reform Steering Committee; co-chair of Renewal 90 Educational Initiative; steering committee member of the 1988, 1992 and 2000 Education Funding Referendum Initiatives; former member of the Alabama Sentencing Commission; judge, Alabama Court of the Judiciary; former member of the Judicial Inquiry Commission; past member of the Alabama Port Authority; former member of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; former board member of the United Way of Southwest Alabama and 1998 chairman of a $7 million campaign for the organization; founder of the Mobile County Community Development Partnership; founder, Prichard Federal Credit Union; former chair of Envision Mobile/Baldwin; member, Underage Drinking Task Force; member, 100 Black Men, Mobile Chapter; and director of Christian Education and Sunday School Superintendent for Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. He also currently serves on the boards of several organizations, including the University of South Alabama, the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, the Mobile United Steering Committee, the Mobile Senior Bowl Committee, the MLK Redevelopment Corporation, the Mobile County Governmental Utilities, Mobile County Communication District, Volunteers of America, and Maritime Center of the Gulf of Mexico. He also serves as chair of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and is an emeritus member of the Community Foundation of Southwest Alabama. Madam Speaker, I would like to offer my personal congratulations to Mayor Sam Jones for being named the Mobilian of the Year for 2008 and in so doing recognize him for his many outstanding accomplishments. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating a dedicated professional and friend to many throughout south Alabama. I know his many friends and colleagues join me in praising his accomplishments and extending thanks for his many efforts over the years on behalf of the city of Mobile and the entire state.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, Wilcox County recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor Mildred Juanita Nettles Cook and pay tribute to her memory. A lifelong resident of Arlington, Mrs. Cook graduated from Wilcox County High School and, in 1940, she graduated with honors from Alabama State College for Women in Montevallo. Mrs. Cook was also a lifelong member of the Arlington United Methodist Church, where she served as treasurer and Sunday school superintendent for many years. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women and the Friday Afternoon Club. She was a member of Alabama Charter Chapter #36 United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Lt. Joseph M. Wilcox Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She served as president of both the Alabama Division and the General Division of the UDC and was known and respected throughout the nation for her leadership in both the Daughters of the Confederacy and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Cook was a charter director of the Town-Country National Bank in Camden. She also served as treasurer of the Arlington Methodist Community and Cemetery Foundation. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. ``Miss Mildred'' will be dearly missed by her family--her sons, Daniel Bragg Cook Jr. and his wife Angela, Samuel McPherson Cook and his wife Claudia, and Abe Crum Cook III and his wife Helen; her grandchildren, Jennifer Mildred Cook Nice, Richard Daniel Cook, Samuel McPherson Cook Jr., John Roan Cook, Claudina Pereira, Marian Denisse Cook, Abe Crum Cook IV, Braxton Dauphin Cook, and Kathryn Elizabeth Cook; her great- grandchildren, Leina Tsou Cook, Anara Tsou Cook, and Samuel Rikard Cook; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins--as well as the countless friends she leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and, indeed, the entire state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor John Barnett Waterman II and pay tribute to his memory. A lifelong resident of Mobile, John graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1968 and was a member of the school's second graduating class. He was also a member of the university's first pledge class of the Sigma Chi fraternity. John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and went on to pursue a successful career in investments. A proud patron of the arts, John was a supporter of the Mobile Symphony and also sponsored an annual scholarship for a Mobile graduating high school student to attend the Brevard School of Music. In 1919, with one ship and $2,000 capital, John's grandfather founded the Waterman Steamship Corporation, which grew to become the nation's largest family-owned steamship company. The company's headquarters housed the Waterman Globe, a local maritime icon. John was an ardent supporter of the refurbishing of the icon, which is now on display at the University of South Alabama's Mitchell Center. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. John Barnett Waterman II will be dearly missed by his family--his wife, Lynne Stanard Waterman; his daughter, Kemp Waterman Buntin and her husband, Jeffrey; his son, John Douglas Waterman; his sisters, Annise Waterman Uphaus and Melissa Waterman Inge; and his grandsons, Gaither Waterman Buntin and Thomas Rush Buntin--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Jackson and, indeed, the entire state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor Betty McCrary McCorquodale and pay tribute to her memory. A lifelong resident of Jackson, ``Miss Betty'' graduated from Jackson High School and attended Florida State University before marrying Joseph Charles McCorquodale Jr. In World War II, her husband served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and during the time they were stationed in Big Spring, Texas Air Force Base, ``Miss Betty'' was selected as the Beauty Queen of the Cadet Corps. She also served as president of the Cadet Wives Club. In 1959, Mr. McCorquodale was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives. ``Miss Betty'' was actively involved during his 23 years in the Alabama Legislature. She helped organize the Legislative Wives Club and served one year as its president. She was also instrumental in having replicas of the original gas lights installed in the lobby of the entrance to the Alabama Capitol building as well as in the House chamber. ``Miss Betty'' was a founding member of the Jackson Woman's Club and served as its first president. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Jackson where she taught Sunday school classes. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. Betty McCrary McCorquodale will be dearly missed by her family--her husband of 67 years, Joseph Charles McCorquodale Jr.; their two sons, Joseph Charles ``Mac'' McCorquodale III and Gaines Cowan McCorquodale; their four grandchildren, Elizabeth M. Percy, Joseph Charles McCorquodale IV, Martha Virginia ``Ginny'' Stewart, and Mary Helen Marks; seven great-grandchildren; her sister, Jean McCrary Payne; nieces, nephews; and other relatives--as well as the countless friends she leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor the memory of former Alabama Governor Guy Hunt. Our nation lost a wonderful friend and an individual who made numerous contributions toward the betterment of our state. A native of Holly Pond, Alabama, Governor Hunt enlisted in the United States Army upon graduation from Holly Pond High School and served in the Korean War. Following his discharge in 1956, he returned to Alabama where he operated an egg farm. In 1958, he was ordained a Primitive Baptist minister. Governor Hunt's political career began in 1962 when he ran for a seat in the Alabama Senate. He lost the election; however, in 1964, he was elected probate judge of Cullman County becoming the youngest probate judge in Alabama. Honoring a campaign promise, he stepped down after two terms. He was also active in the Republican Party, serving as state chairman of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaigns in 1976 and 1980. He also chaired Alabama's Republican delegations at the 1976 and 1980 Republican National Conventions. After President Reagan won election in 1980, he appointed Governor Hunt state director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee. He served on the committee until 1985 when he stepped down to run for governor. Winning the 1986 election with the most votes ever for a gubernatorial candidate at that time, he became Alabama's first Republican chief executive since Reconstruction. His election to the governor's office is credited with creating a two-party system in the state. Governor Hunt was re-elected in 1990. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering this dedicated public servant. Guy Hunt will be deeply missed by his family--his wife, Anne Smith Hunt; two sons, Keith Hunt and his wife Heather, and Cary Smith and his wife Jayne; five daughters, Pamella Hunt, Sherrie Williams, Lynn Harris and her husband Doug, Judy Gurley and her husband Mike, and Lois Swindal and her husband Bruce; 16 grandchildren, Nigel Hunt, Nolan Hunt, Ashley Hunt, Kayla Hunt, Samuel Hunt, Heath Williams, Eric Williams, Kelly Williams, Raygen Catoe, Dusty Kanute, Dawn Brantley, Rachel Gurley, Caryanne Swindal, Bradley Swindal, Joshua Swindal, and Anna Grace Swindal; and eight great- grandchildren, Bonnie Catoe, Katelyn Kanute, Cale Kanute, William Brantley, Parker Brantley, Levi Hunt, Skye Hunter, and Helen Anne Williams--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today to congratulate my friend Tray Smith of Atmore, Alabama, for being named Atmore's 2008 ``Citizen of the Year.'' As evidenced by an outstanding list of accomplishments, he is one of the most exceptional young men I have ever known. Tray has a love of people and an understanding of politics that is certainly beyond his years. As a freshman in high school, he was given an opportunity to write a weekly political column for The Atmore Advance. He has also been an active member of the Student Government Association, a member of the National Honor Society and helped start a recycling program at Escambia County High School. In addition, Tray is an Eagle Scout and last year helped more than 100 citizens register to vote, most of them being minorities. Although I have known Tray for years, I have been especially proud of some of his more recent accomplishments. As you may know, Governor Bob Riley chose Tray to be the first high school intern working in his office in Montgomery. Additionally, as part of the Junior Statesmen of American Summer program at Georgetown University, Tray also attended the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. During both opportunities, Tray excelled in every way possible. Last year, however, I was especially proud to nominate Tray to serve as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, DC. This is an honor that falls on only a select few high school juniors from throughout the nation; needless to say, he made me proud every day that I saw him on the floor of the U.S. Congress, and he has made south Alabama proud countless times as well. Tray's list of accomplishments reads more like someone who is three or four times his age. Suffice it to say, he truly represents the very best of our young people today. Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay Tray is that as a father of a teenage daughter and an 11-year-old son, I can only hope that my children will one day have the maturity, the value system and the sense of priorities as they continue to grow- up that Tray has. There couldn't be a better role-model for them--or for our other young people--than Tray Smith. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the proud citizens of the First Congressional District and the entire state of Alabama, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Tray Smith on this tremendous achievement. I know I speak for all my colleagues in the House of Representatives when I say we can't wait to see what he accomplishes in the next 18 years of his life.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today to commend Danny Cottrell for his generosity in creating his very own economic stimulus package for Escambia County, Alabama. As a way to thank his employees and give back to his community, Danny gave each of his full-time employees at his pharmacies in Brewton and Atmore an envelope of $2 bills worth $700, and his part-time employees each received $300. They were asked to donate 15 percent to charity and spend the rest of the money locally at shops and restaurants. The $2 bills were used so the community could see how the money circulates. The $16,000 that Danny distributed to his employees--the ``country boy's stimulus package'' as he calls it--has served as a wonderful example of generosity in these difficult economic times. Local business owners have noticed the $2 bills being spent, and one business owner is even saving the $2 bills to spend at Danny's pharmacy. As the Brewton Standard recently noted on its editorial page, Danny's stipulation that 15 percent of the money be given to charity ``is an example of the kind of generosity most needed right now, when many people don't have a lot of extra money to give to those in need.'' Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Escambia County and, indeed, all of Alabama's First Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Danny Cottrell for his tremendous example of generosity. I know his family, his many friends, his employees, and his loyal customers join me in praising his accomplishments and good deeds.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009. Project Name: Mobile Harbor Turning Basin. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction General Account. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Alabama State Port Authority. Address of Requesting Entity: 250 North Water Street, Suite 300, Mobile, AL 36602. Description of Request: Provide $4.785 million to construct the Mobile Harbor Turning Basin project as authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (PL99-662 Ninety-ninth Congress, Second Session) under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--Construction General Account. Initial project request anticipated expenditures of .04 percent will be used for land; .11 percent will be used for navigation aids; .11 percent for removal of existing concrete debris; 3.97 percent for mobilization, preparation and demobilization of a 26 CY Bucket Dredge; 4.20 percent for mobilization, preparation and demobilization of a 30 inch Pipeline Dredge; 67 percent for the removal of and placement in designated dredge disposal areas approx. 2,699,232 cubic yards of dredged material; 5.32 percent for planning, engineering and design work; 2.42 percent for construction management; 12.57 percent in project construction contingency; and 3.83 percent in project escalation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted an Environmental Assessment in accordance with Engineer Regulation (ER) 200-2-2, Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Pts. 1500-1508) resulting in a FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI). Construction of the authorized turning basin has been evaluated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through the Corps General Reevaluation Report (GRR) to alleviate harbor delays and improve safety conditions, and reflects a benefit-to-cost ratio of 3.46 to 1. This project is permitted. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers General Construction account. The Alabama State Port Authority, the 10th largest port in the U.S., is the federally designated local sponsor for the Port of Mobile Harbor and will provide the 25 percent cost share for the Mobile Harbor Turning Basin project. The Alabama State Port Authority's 25 percent cost share funding is secured. Turning basin will help serve a new container terminal, coal terminal and two raw material terminals. Project Name: Mobile Harbor. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Operations and Maintenance. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Alabama State Port Authority. Address of Requesting Entity: 250 North Water Street, Suite 300, Mobile, Alabama 36602. Description of Request: Provide $20.014 million for normal Operations and Maintenance of the Mobile Harbor Project, Mobile Alabama. Mobile Harbor is the nation's 10th largest port and is critical to the movement of a variety of products necessary for the nation's economy. Mobile Harbor handles 59 million tons of cargo annually and serves a wide range of Alabama and southeastern industries. Approximately $20.014 million of these funds will be used for maintenance dredging of the bay and river channels, as well as for condition surveys, dredging surveys, disposal area maintenance and ESA/WQC coordination. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Army Corps of Engineers, Operations and Maintenance account. Project Name: Coosa-Alabama River Lakes. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Operations & Maintenance. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. Address of Requesting Entity: USACE Mobile District, 109 St. Joseph Street, Mobile, Alabama 36602. Description of Request: Provide $17 million for normal operations and maintenance of the Alabama River navigation channel as authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1947. Initial project request anticipated expenditure of 4 percent will be used for environmental stewardship; 45 percent will be used for hydropower maintenance; 29 percent will be used for navigation; 19 percent will be used for continued maintenance on public access sites; and 3 percent will be used for other project expenses. Project: Scanning Hydrographic Operational Airborne LiDAR Survey Systems. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Operations and Maintenance. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. Address of Requesting Entity: USACE Mobile District, 109 St. Joseph Street, Mobile, AL 36602. Description of Request: Provide $13.9 million to acquire data collection in the Gulf of Mexico under the National Coastal Mapping Program and facilitate the deployment of LiDAR technology under the Coastal Zone Mapping Imaging LiDAR (CZMIL) program. Approximately, 50 percent will provide funds to perform routine coastal mapping activities and for completion of CZMIL detailed design to include construction and assembly of sensor sub-systems; 14 percent will be utilized to accelerate CZMIL development into fabrication phase, 14 percent will allow for the completion of coastal mapping activities on the west coast in southern CA; 7 percent will be used for exhaustive CZMIL component tests to reduce risk in the fabrication phase; 13 percent will initiate surveys on the Gulf coast in the state of Texas. LiDAR Survey System will provide coastal mapping and charting along the coast to reflect changes due to recent hurricanes and to serve as a part of a master program for U.S. emergency preparedness and response. Project Name: Auburn University Bioenergy and Bioproducts Laboratory Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Department of Energy, EERE--Biomass Biorefinery Systems R&D. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University. Address of Requesting Entity: 202 Samford Hall, Auburn, AL 36849. Description of Request: Provide $951,500 to fund the continued development of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary bioenergy and bioproducts laboratory at Auburn University. The funds will be expended for research on systems to produce alternatives to petroleum based fuels--i.e., biofuels and other bioproducts. Outcomes of this research will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, reduce the production of greenhouse gases, and will revitalize our local economies. The initial project request anticipated expenditures of approximately 50 percent will be used for laboratory equipment; 10 percent will be used for laboratory supplies; 37 percent will be used for laboratory personnel; 2 percent will be used for travel to collect data and present research results. Matching non-federal funds will come from Auburn University. No funds will come from nongovernmental source and no funds will be disbursed to other private/public entities. Project Name: U.S. HWY 43 Main, Jackson, Alabama. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Environmental Protection Agency, State & Tribal Grants. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Jackson, Alabama. Address of Requesting Entity: 400 Commerce Street, Alabama 36545. Description of Request: Provide $500,000 to establish Phase I of an expansion of the water system between Jackson, AL and Grove Hill, AL. The total cost of Phase 1 is projected to be $4,981,800.00, which includes approximately, $3,492,000.00 to provide lengths of 24-inch water main; $65,000.00 for ten 24-inch gate valves, boxes, and markers; $300,000 for 800 road bores, setup, casings, and carrier pipe; $25,000 for five fire hydrant assemblies; and $450,000 for a water booster station upgrade. An additional $649,800 is estimated for engineering and design costs associated with phase I. The expansion is needed to provide clean drinking water and infrastructure support for existing jobs and to attract new jobs in Jackson and regionally. This request is consistent with the authorized purpose of the EPA's STAG account. The City of Jackson will provide or cause to be provided a minimum of a 45- percent matching cost share. Project Name: Historic Blakeley Park Spanish Fort. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: National Park Service, Save America's Treasures. Legal Name of Requesting Agency: Historic Blakeley Authority. Address of Requesting Entity: 34745 State Highway 225, Spanish Fort, Alabama 36577. Description of Request: Provide $50,000 to establish infrastructure such as water, power and sewer to public areas of Blakeley State Park. Approximately 60 percent will be used for materials and supplies; 30 percent will be used for labor and equipment; 10 percent will be used for professional service and fees. Blakeley Park, which commemorates the site of the last battle of the Civil War, is a National Historic Register site and also serves as a training area for the Alabama National Guard. Funding will be matched by Blakeley Park and will prevent further damage to the park and allow the extension of water and power lines to areas currently without utilities. Project Name: University of South Alabama, Mitchell Cancer Institute, Emerging Technologies Radiotherapy and the Disaster Medical Training Center. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Department of Health & Human Services, HRSA, Health Facilities and Services. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The University of South Alabama. Address of Requesting Entity: 307 University Boulevard, AD 131, Mobile, AL 36688. Description of Request: Provide $951,000 for facilities and equipment at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI) and the Disaster Medical Training Center (DMTC). The initial project request anticipated expenditures of approximately 50 percent will be used to fund 7,500-foot expansion of the MCI, including the purchase of two high-energy radiation vaults and MRI/Gamma irridation ``Renaissance'' technology, for which the university has also committed funds. The second 50 percent will be used for equipment and infrastructure development of the DMTC. Approximately 12 percent of these funds will be used for a high performance server with workstations; 36 percent will be used for two METI i-STAN human patient simulators, 9 percent will be used for five high resolution projectors, projection screens, and laptops; 2 percent will be used for cameras and sound equipment for videoconferencing; 19 percent will be used for software licenses needed to run simulations and visualizations; 20 percent will be used to renovate existing space. The DMTC equips hospitals, first responders, and public safety officials with the necessary real-time information and integrated systems to prepare for and manage patients and communities' critical health and safety needs in the event of a disaster. Project Name: University of Alabama, West Alabama Autism Outreach. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA, Health Facilities and Services. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The University of Alabama. Address of Requesting Entity: 201 Rose Administration Building, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0117. Description of Request: Provide $666,000 to establish a regional autism center that provides clinical services, professional education, and research at the University of Alabama. The initial project request anticipated expenditures of approximately 63 percent will be used to establish a central university-based autism clinic that will provide interdisciplinary diagnostic and treatment services to individuals with autism; 25 percent will be used to establish a satellite clinic in the rural, impoverished Black Belt region of Alabama; 12 percent will be used to create a coordinated clinical and research database. This request would be combined with $95,000 in matching funds from the Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities. Autism spectrum disorders affect 1 in every 150 individuals including approximately 300,000 in Alabama. A regional center that provides diagnostics services, intervention services, and professional education in both urban and rural areas answers a critical public health need in the west Alabama community and should greatly improve the quality of life of individuals with autism and their families. Project Name: Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, Employment and Education Training. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Training and Employment Services (TES). Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB). Address of Requesting Entity: 1050 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama 36604. Description of Request: Provide $190,000 to develop and implement a collaborative employer training and job development program for significantly disabled citizens with hearing and vision loss in southwest Alabama. The initial project request anticipated expenditures of approximately 77 percent will be used for job coach development; 17 percent will be used for assistive technology; and 5 percent will be used for employer training. High unemployment and low income statistics for deaf and blind adults are critical national issues while 70 percent of blind individuals are unemployed and more than a third of deaf adults earn 60 percent less than their hearing peers. This program will focus on job development through assistive technology and employer training in working with disabled employees, part of a statewide education effort to be matched 33 percent by AIDB. Project Name: Gulf Coast Flood Elevation Study, Baldwin County. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Dept. of Commerce, NOAA--Program Support, Operations, Research and Facilities. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Baldwin County Commission. Address of Requesting Entity: 312 Courthouse Square, Suite 12, Bay Minette, Alabama 36507. Description of Request: Provide $1,000,000 to complete a Gulf Coast flood elevation study in Baldwin County, Alabama. Approximately, 60 percent is for hydrological assessment and engineering; 20 percent for flood management plan development; 5 percent for flood mapping; 7.5 percent for potable water study; and 7.5 percent for waste water study. Focus of study is to update and expand current FEMA flood maps, which were not adequately updated post-Hurricane Katrina, for this Gulf-front county in order to ensure proper rebuilding and new construction in this region. Project Name: Gulf Coast Flood Elevation Study, Mobile County. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Dept. of Commerce, NOAA-Program Support, Operations, Research Facilities. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Mobile County Commission. Address of Requesting Entity: 205 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama 36644. Description of Request: Provide $1,000,000 to complete a Gulf Coast Flood Elevation Study in Mobile County, Alabama. Approximately, 45 percent is for flood elevation modeling; 20 percent for engineering and surveying; 20 percent for mapping; and 15 percent for administration, management, and quality assurance and control. This request is intended to aid in meeting the need for revised flood mapping in the coastal areas of Mobile County. Focus of study is to update and expand current FEMA flood maps, which were not adequately updated post-Hurricane Katrina, for this Gulf-front county in order to ensure proper rebuilding and new construction in this region. Project Name: Zerometh Methamphetamine (METH) Campaign. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Dept. of Justice, COPS Law Enforcement Technology. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Alabama District Attorneys Association. Address of Requesting Entity: 515 South Perry Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. Description of Request: Provide $500,000 to fund marketing, production and media placement for the Alabama statewide ZEROMETH Public Awareness Campaign--an awareness effort aimed at teens to discourage METH use. Approximately, 50 percent will be used to create, film, photograph, edit and purchase three TV commercials, outdoor, radio and print ads and support staff; 30 percent will be used for media flights/buys in designated market areas of Alabama; 10 percent will be used for creation and production of ZEROMETH brochure, training DVD and distribution material, 5 percent will be used for monitoring, maintenance and update of ZEROMETH website; and 5 percent will be used for high school presentation materials, displays and interactive educational vehicles. Campaign will allow statewide deployment of the only meth awareness public health campaign in Alabama targeting teens and young adults in a state that is home to the most meth incidents among Gulf Coast states and that has seen an increase in local Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTO) trafficking of a more pure form of meth known as ``ice.'' This request will be supported in matching funds and contributions. Project Name: Team Focus Youth Mentoring Program. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Department of Justice, Juvenile Justice Programs. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Team Focus, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 1105 Hillcrest Road, Suite A, Mobile, AL 36695. Description of Request: Provide $500,000 for ``Team Focus, Inc.,'' a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, to provide fatherless young men in southwest Alabama with leadership skills, guidance, spiritual and moral values, and a continuing relationship with a carefully selected adult mentor. In addition, Team Focus will host a model leadership camp training program uniquely designed to: provide guidance and support to young men who do not have a father in their home; encourage young men in academics, athletics, social skills, and moral and spiritual values; develop leadership skills and teamwork; motivate boys to strive for higher positive goals and achieve victories; create a safe environment for young men to grow in society; and build support through work with families, teachers, counselors, and positive role models. This federal earmark will be combined with matching private contributions. Project Name: Law Enforcement Technology, Gulf Shores, Alabama. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Department of Justice, COPS Law Enforcement Technology. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Gulf Shores, Alabama. Address of Requesting Entity: 1905 West 1st Street, Gulf Shores, Alabama 36547. Description of Request: Provide $350,000 to provide wireless communications to police vehicles and provide security cameras to pubic beach and park areas. Initial project request anticipated expenditures of 45 percent will be used for mobile units; 15 percent will be used for hand held units; 12 percent will be used for base units; 15 percent will be used for repeaters; 11 percent will be used for installation costs; and 2 percent will be used for permit/FCC licenses. Current communications equipment has serious coverage problems which poses a threat to officer safety and is not P-25 compliant, as required by the FCC by year 2013. Funding will also aid police in monitoring drug trafficking in this high traffic area. Gulf Shores, a city of 7,000, swells to well over 25,000 on weekdays and 75,000 to 100,000 on weekends, in the spring and summer months. The City of Gulf Shores will provide matching funds. Project Name: Perdido Pass Inlet Study, Orange Beach, Alabama. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Department of Commerce, NOAA--Program Support Operations, Research and Facilities. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Orange Beach. Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 458, Orange Beach, Alabama. Description of Request: Provide $250,000 to fund a study to be used in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to implement recommended improvements to sand disposal around the navigation channel at Perdido Pass, located in Orange Beach, Alabama. The initial request anticipated expenditures of approximately 66 percent for economic and environmental analysis engineering, surveying, and modeling; 23 percent for environmental modeling and analysis; 10 percent for component integration. The City of Orange Beach itself has invested tens of millions of dollars to renourish and protect its Gulf- front and interior shorelines, which are often altered by hurricanes. The channel is used by local industry as well as for recreation. The study will develop and evaluate sand disposal practices in order to conserve and reuse sand that collects within the inlet for future renourishment. Proper sand management will also provide a source of fill material for environmental habitat protection. Project Name: Runway 18/36 and Taxiway Rehabilitation, Mobile, Alabama. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: THUD, FAA, Airport Improvement Program. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Mobile Airport Authority. Address of Requesting Entity: 8400 Airport Blvd., Mobile, Alabama 36608. Description of Request: Provide $1,900,000 through the Airport Improvement Program, implemented by the FAA, to rehabilitate and strengthen Runway (RW) 18/36 and its parallel Taxiway ``R'' (TW-R) at Mobile Regional Airport (MOB). Initial project request anticipated expenditures of 7 percent will be used for milling; 67 percent for asphalt; 2 percent for markings; 1 percent for grooving; 9 percent for shoulder redressing; 17 percent for engineering. The Mobile Airport Authority's required cost share is secured. RW 18/36 and TW-R have begun unraveling, creating a safety hazard for aircraft traffic. Strengthening of the surfaces is necessary to support the type of aircraft that will be taxiing across RW18/36 and on TW-R to access the aircraft maintenance and assembly complex located off TW-R. This project will be completed by adhering to all FAA standards for airport construction and development, and the Mobile Airport Authority will provide matching funds as needed. Project Name: Atmore, Alabama Municipal Airport. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: THUD, FAA, Airport Improvement Program. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Atmore. Address of Requesting Entity: 201 East Louisville Avenue, Atmore, Alabama 36502. Description of Request: Provide $1,140,000 to upgrade and improve the Atmore Municipal Airport in Atmore, Alabama. Funding is to be used to provide renovations from hurricane-related losses during Hurricane Ivan in 2004; to improve airport safety zones; and to construct an additional access road to the airport which will provide direct access to the highway and open an additional 43 acres for industrial development. The City of Atmore has spent considerable amounts of its own resources to improve and diversify its local economy, and improvements to the airport will assist the City and region to attract industry to Atmore. This project is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Transportation-Airports account. Project Name: US HWY 43 Lighting, Thomasville, Alabama. Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Federal HWY Administration, Transportation and Community and System Preservation. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Thomasville. Address of Requesting Entity: 137 Adams Avenue, Thomasville, Alabama 36784. Description of Request: Provide $380,000 to provide lighting for U.S. Highway 43 in Thomasville, Clarke County, AL from mile marker 90 to mile marker 87. This commercial corridor in southwest Alabama is one of the most rapidly developing commercial and industrial areas between Mobile and Tuscaloosa, AL. Adequate lighting is needed to illuminate this area for safety and to encourage additional development. This area includes entrances to two industrial parks, a proposed medical center, Alabama Southern Community College, and the main thoroughfare to all of the City's schools and related facilities.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor Alabama State Senator W.H. ``Pat'' Lindsey and pay tribute to his memory. Considered by many to be a living legend in Alabama politics, Sen. Lindsey was one of the most powerful members of the Alabama Senate. At the time of this death, he held the second longest active tenure in the state Senate. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Sen. Lindsey graduated from Choctaw County High School, where he was a five-year letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the University of Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves from 1958 until 1963 and in the Alabama Army National Guard's 156th Military Police Battalion from 1963 until he retired with the rank of captain in 1972. In 1963, he graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law and, just three years later, was elected to the Alabama Senate and served two terms until 1974. Sen. Lindsey returned to the Alabama Senate in 1990 and was reelected in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006. He was a longtime member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and was well known for questioning his fellow lawmakers on how their bills would affect everyday people. With his background in geology, Sen. Lindsey was regarded by his colleagues as an expert on oil and natural gas exploration and was often sought out by his colleagues for his advice on related legislation. Described by the Choctaw Sun-Advocate as a ``champion of education,'' Sen. Lindsey was well-known for his ``staunch support, both financial and otherwise, of K-12 and the college level education.'' He played a key role in securing funds for the construction of the library and adult education center at Alabama Southern Community College in Gilbertown. At the opening of the W.H. ``Pat'' Lindsey Library and Adult Education Community Center in March of 2005, Sen. Lindsey told the crowd, ``There are two things that I have a passion for: kids playing ball and libraries. I've had other things named for me in other places, but this means more because this is home.'' Beginning in 1993, Sen. Lindsey served for 12 years on the board of trustees of the University of South Alabama and, in that capacity, he was instrumental in helping to improve the university's academic and healthcare missions. He was a member of the Alabama Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Alabama Alumni Association. Sen. Lindsey had also represented both the Choctaw County Commission and the town of Butler as chief legal counsel since 1965. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout Alabama. Senator W.H. ``Pat'' Lindsey will be dearly missed by his family--his son, Patrick Lindsey; his daughter, Lori Champion and her husband Jamey; his sister, Kay Kimbrough; and his two grandchildren, Kate and Sophie--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Citronelle and the state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor Gilbert Robert Craft and pay tribute to his memory. Known to his many friends as ``Bobby,'' he was a lifelong resident of Citronelle. He graduated from Citronelle High School and Spring Hill College. He also served in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of captain. Bobby began his career in public service in 1968 when he was elected to the Citronelle Town Council. In 1970, he was appointed to Citronelle's Utility Board, which later became South Alabama Utilities. He served as chairman from 1972 until 1984 when he was named executive director, a position he held for more than 39 years. Under Bobby's leadership, the local utility company encompassing one municipality grew to become one of the most respected utilities in the South, expanding into Semmes, west Mobile County, and at one time, southern Mobile County. In honor of his service and unwavering devotion to his city, Bobby was twice named Citronelle's Citizen of the Year. He was the owner of two companies, Craft Auto Parts and Craft Oil Company, and was a devoted member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church where he was a member for more than 70 years. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. Gilbert Robert Craft will be dearly missed by his family--his wife, Patricia; his children, Gilbert Robert Craft Jr. and his wife Deena, Patricia D'Nette Fagan, and Matthew Reed Craft and his wife Kirsten; his five grandchildren, Tiffani Marie Craft, Joshua Robert Craft, Blakely Danelle Fagan, Reed Alexander Craft, and Raleigh Connell Craft; and his three brothers, Joseph P. Craft, James B. Craft, and William M. Craft--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and indeed the entire state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor him and pay tribute to his memory. Robert C. Petty Sr. was a musical legend in Mobile. As the senior member of Mobile's Excelsior Band, Mr. Petty spent more than 50 years with the band, performing its Dixieland and conventional jazz in local Mardi Gras parades, at many Mobile weddings, and other special city events. Anyone who knew Mr. Petty knew he loved playing the trombone. In addition to the Excelsior Band, which has marched the streets of downtown Mobile for over 100 years, he had been the lead trombonist with the E.B. Coleman Orchestra and the C.T. Jazz Ensemble. He was a longtime member and former president of the Musicians Federation Union as well as a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he also played in the band. Mr. Petty was a 1937 graduate of Dunbar High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree in history from Morehouse College in 1950. While he was at Morehouse, he played the trombone and was awarded the Morehouse Service ``M'' in band for his outstanding performance. Mr. Petty was also a retiree of the U.S. Postal Service. Madam Speaker, the Excelsior Band--and Mobile Mardi Gras--will not be the same, and I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering this talented man. Robert C. Petty Sr. will be deeply missed by his family-- his wife of more than 50 years, Gloria; his seven children, Phyllis McArthur, Robert Petty Jr., Cynthia Taylor, Sharon Kuttner, Minda ``Carol'' Petty, Kenneth Petty, and Wendell Petty; his 14 grandchildren, and his two great-grandchildren--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with both pride and pleasure that I rise today to honor George Werneth on the occasion of his retirement from Mobile's Press-Register. Over the course of his career, George has played an influential role in honoring the service and actions of our nation's servicemen and women. After nearly four decades of reporting issues ranging from maritime operations to military news, George has become the trusted voice for the news of Alabama's veterans. In honor of his efforts, George was recently made an honorary member of the Marine Corps League at the American Legion Post 88 in Mobile. One of George's latest accomplishments was a series of stories he wrote profiling a veteran from Eight Mile, Alabama, who struggled to receive disability care after having been ``waterboarded'' in a 1975 Navy survival course. Due in large part to George's spotlight highlighting the oversight, the veteran soon received his benefits. Madam Speaker, George Werneth's distinguished career in journalism has provided a great service to the people of southwest Alabama, and I know his colleagues, family, and friends join with me in praising him for his years of hard work. George will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with family and loved ones. On behalf of a grateful community, I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of the Honorable Steve Chabot for his service to the people of Ohio and the United States House of Representatives. Congressman Chabot has represented the First Congressional District of the state of Ohio for the past 14 years. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Steve graduated from La Salle High School and worked his way through the College of William and Mary. He returned to Cincinnati after college to teach in a downtown elementary school during the day and attend the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at night. After completing his law degree, Steve opened his own neighborhood law practice, and his father worked as his assistant. Before he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Steve served as a Cincinnati City Council Member for five years, followed by a five-year term on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. When Steve was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, he was named to the influential Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, and Small Business Committees. In 2007, Steve became the top Republican on the Small Business Committee, where he focused on permitting small businesses to band together to obtain affordable health insurance for their workers. On the Judiciary Committee, Steve served as chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution from 2001 to 2006, from which post he promoted proposals to amend the Constitution to ban flag desecration, outlaw same-sex marriage, require a balanced budget, protect the rights of crime victims, and allow prayer and religious symbols to be displayed on public property. Consistently rated as one of the most pro-taxpayer members of Congress, Steve was known as one of Congress's leading advocates for fiscal responsibility. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family, his wife, Donna; his two children; and his many friends and colleagues join me in honoring his accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the state of Ohio and the United States of America. Steve will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with his family and loved ones. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of the Honorable Phil English for his service to the people of Pennsylvania and the United States House of Representatives. Congressman English has represented the Third Congressional District of the State of Pennsylvania for the past 14 years. A lifelong resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, Phil graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1979. His interest in politics began when he was young. At just the age of 20, he served as an alternate delegate to the 1976 Republican National Convention. Phil began his career in public service as a legislative aide in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In 1985, he was elected as Erie City Controller, the first Republican elected to citywide office in 20 years. After his term as controller, Phil helped design the campaign for Rick Santorum's upset win to the U.S. Senate. Phil then served as chief of staff for then State Senator Melissa Hart until he ran for an open House seat in 1994. Known for his knowledge and experience with tax issues, Phil was appointed to the powerful Ways and Means Committee in his first year in Congress, becoming the first freshman Republican appointed to the committee in almost 30 years. Throughout his service to Pennsylvania and the United States, Phil has fought hard for measures to increase the child tax credit, accelerate the reduction of income tax rates, encourage household savings, eliminate the individual and corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), cut the capital gains tax rate, increase expensing limits for businesses making capital investments, and encourage American companies operating overseas to reinvest in the United States. In the 110th Congress, Phil became the ranking member on the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family-- his wife, Chris--and his many friends and colleagues join me in honoring his accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the State of Pennsylvania and the United States of America. Phil will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with his family and loved ones. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of the Honorable Robin Hayes for his service to the people of North Carolina and the United States House of Representatives. Congressman Hayes has represented the Eighth Congressional District of the State of North Carolina for the past 10 years. Born and raised in Concord, North Carolina, Robin graduated from Duke University with a degree in history. Throughout college, Robin worked at his family-run textile business, but after graduation, he ventured out on his own, eventually moving his family to Alaska to run a freight business. He later returned home and bought a small air charter business as well as a hosiery mill. Robin's start in politics came as a Concord alderman, a post he held for three years. He ran successfully for a seat in the state House and was later elected Republican Whip. Elected to Congress in 1998, Robin was named to the Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, and Agriculture Committees, and is currently the top ranking Republican on the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee. From his seat on the House Agriculture Committee, Robin has earned a reputation as one of Congress's staunchest defenders of tobacco--an industry vital to North Carolina's economy. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family, his wife of 40 years, Barbara; his two children, Winslow and Bob; and his many friends and colleagues join me in honoring his accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the State of North Carolina and the United States of America. Robin will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with his family and loved ones. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and the state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor former Mayor Lambert C. Mims and pay tribute to his memory. With a public career spanning two decades, Mayor Mims's tenure in office marked a period of significant growth for the city of Mobile, including the completion of the George C. Wallace tunnels and the Interstate 10 Bayway, the opening of the restored Fort Conde, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, and the first oil well in Mobile Bay. Born in the small farming town of Uriah in south Monroe County, Mayor Mims grew up on a cotton farm and was no stranger to hard work. He moved to Mobile at the age of 19 and had called the city home ever since. In 1965, he was elected to the Mobile City Commission, becoming the youngest commissioner in Mobile's history. When first elected, he served as Public Works Commissioner. The commission rotated the title of mayor every 16 months and, during his tenure as mayor and commissioner, he made public morality the foundation of his administration, including the passage of an anti-pornography regulation. After leaving office, then-Governor George C. Wallace appointed Mayor Mims as ambassador to the Alabama Waterways Development Agency. He later served as president of the American Public Works Association and the Alabama League of Municipalities. A long-time member and deacon at Riverside Baptist Church, Mayor Mims served as president of the Alabama Baptist Brotherhood, the Alabama Baptist State Convention, the Mobile Baptist Association, and the Masonic Breakfast Club. He was a member of the Azalea Masonic Lodge #898 F & AM, the Abba Temple Shrine, West Mobile Kiwanis Club, the CBMC and served as president of the Waterfront Rescue Mission Advisory Board. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. Lambert C. Mims will be dearly missed by his family--his wife, Reecie; his sons, Dale P. Mims and L. Daniel Mims; his grandchildren, Lindsay C. Mims and Katie E. Mims; and his brother, Bibb Graves Mims--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Mr. BONNER

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor James William McFarland and pay tribute to his memory. Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Bill graduated from Tuscaloosa High School and graduated with honors with a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama in Commerce and Business Administration. He was named outstanding real estate graduate by the Alabama Association of Realtors. After graduation, Bill served as director of real estate for Winn Dixie Stores Incorporated in the Louisville, Kentucky division. In 1973, he returned to Tuscaloosa as vice president of Ward McFarland Incorporated, a real estate development and investment firm founded by his father, the Honorable Ward Wharton McFarland. In 1986, Bill was the Republican Nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives for the Seventh District of Alabama. The following year, former Governor Guy Hunt appointed Bill to his cabinet as commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Retardation. During his two years as commissioner, Bill was successful in pushing for the passage of a $1 million bond for mental health, the largest in state history. The bond issue enabled mental health facilities throughout Alabama to renovate their facilities and improve their quality of care. Bill was also a founding member of the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission, and he served numerous terms as chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary/treasurer of the Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi Rapid Rail Transit Commission. Bill played a key role in inaugurating the Gulf Coast Limited Amtrak Service, which provided service to Alabama. Bill was also active in state politics. He served as chairman for three terms of the Tuscaloosa County Republican Executive Committee. He served as a member of the Alabama State Republican Executive Committee, including one term as seventh district vice-chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. Bill was elected alternate delegate to the 1988 Republican National Convention and was elected statewide as delegate to the 1992 Republican National Convention, at which President George H.W. Bush appointed him as a floor leader for the Southern Caucus. Bill was an officer in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Alabama Governors George C. Wallace, Guy Hunt, and Jim Folsom Jr. each appointed Bill as Lieutenant Colonel Aide-de-Camp. He was also appointed by former U.S. Representative Jack Kemp as a member of the United States Congressional Advisory Board. Bill also worked with the Volunteers of America of Alabama, most recently serving as president. Bill served on the Shelton State Foundation, Friends of Bryce Hospital, as well as other leadership positions with various other community and civic organizations. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. James William McFarland will be dearly missed by his family--his son, J.W. ``Billy'' McFarland Jr. and his wife, Sarah; his daughter, Mimi McFarland Cawood and her husband, Joseph; his brother, Ward Morrow McFarland; and his nephew, Ward Weston McFarland--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.