June 24, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1197 are other instances in which Justice Thom- day to better our 10th District of Pennsylvania. authored, They Call Me Julia, based on the as’s travels correspond to flights taken by Over the past fifty years, the Village has seen life of another famous Alabamian, Julia S. Mr. Crow’s planes. many Presidents as well as members of their Tutwiler. On Jan. 4, 2010, when Justice Thomas was in Savannah for the dedication of a building Board of Directors, but through the guiding In 2003, Kathryn Tucker Windham was in- in his honor, Mr. Crow’s plane flew from presence of Mr. Lomma, the Village has ducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor at Washington to Savannah and returned to grown into a wonderful place for families and the recommendation of her friend, fellow Ala- Washington the next day. Justice Thomas visitors. bama author, Nelle Harper Lee. Today, Ala- reported in his financial disclosure that his It is an honor today to recognize Mr. Ralph bama Southern Community College in Thom- travel had been paid for by the Savannah Lomma. Please join me in acknowledging his asville houses the Kathryn Tucker Windham College of Art and Design, which owned the determination, selflessness, and commitment Museum. building. to the ideals of community and camaraderie Mr. Speaker, we mourn the loss of Kathryn In his 2009 financial disclosure, Justice Thomas reported that Southern Methodist that have led him and The Village of the Four Tucker Windham, and we will always be grate- University in Dallas—Trammell Crow’s alma Seasons to such success. ful for her devotion to telling the most beautiful mater—had provided his travel for a speech f and entertaining stories about Alabama and there on Sept. 30. Flight records show that the South. There was only one Kathryn Tucker Mr. Crow’s plane flew from Washington to REMEMBERING ALABAMA’S BE- Windham and we will surely miss her greatly. Dallas that day. LOVED STORYTELLER, KATHRYN The thoughts and prayers of our entire state Among the questions The Times submitted TUCKER WINDHAM are with her family at this difficult time. to Justice Thomas was whether he was on f any of those flights, and if so, whether the HON. JO BONNER colleges reimbursed him or Mr. Crow. The ELECTON SUPPORT CONSOLIDA- OF ALABAMA colleges declined to comment. TION AND EFFICIENCY ACT One item not required to be reported in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Justice Thomas’s financial disclosures is the Friday, June 24, 2011 SPEECH OF millions of dollars Mr. Crow is spending on the museum. That is because the money is Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened HON. LAURA RICHARDSON not being given to the justice as a gift. to inform the House that Alabama has lost one OF CALIFORNIA For Algernon and Sharon Varn, who said of its great writers and favorite citizens. Just a IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES they were thrilled to see a cherished piece of few days ago, our beloved Southern storyteller local history being restored, the museum is a and gifted author, Kathryn Tucker Windham, Tuesday, June 21, 2011 gift to the community. While it is about more than Justice Thomas, they said, he de- passed away after a year-long illness at the Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in serves credit for putting them together with age of 93. strong opposition of H.R. 672, the Election someone who had the money and the interest Life is a patchwork of trials, triumphs, joys, Support Consolidation and Efficiency Act, to make the project a reality. and sorrows, sown together through genera- which eliminates the Election Assistance Com- ‘‘He was instrumental in getting the proc- tions of experience. When it comes to color- mission, EAC. I oppose this legislation be- ess started, because he wanted it preserved fully interpreting the past, no one could artfully cause terminating the EAC risks reducing the to show that no matter where you came stitch the stories of our state and the Deep voting and civil rights of our citizens—rights for from, you can go where you want,’’ Mr. Varn South like Kathryn Tucker Windham. which many have given their lives. said. ‘‘He had a meager existence, and yet look where he is today. It’s a great American Born in Selma in 1918 and raised in Thom- The EAC is charged with developing stand- story.’’ asville, Kathryn Tucker Windham began her ards for voting systems, and this precedent- f writing career early in life, penning movie re- setting work has been recognized by nations views at the age of 12 for the Thomasville around the world. The EAC’s certification pro- HONORING RALPH LOMMA Times. A graduate of Huntington College, she gram uses its oversight role to coordinate with took her first full-time reporting job in 1940, manufacturers and local election officials to HON. TOM MARINO covering the police beat for the Alabama Jour- ensure that existing voting equipment meets OF PENNSYLVANIA nal in Montgomery—the first female reporter to durability and longevity standards. This re- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES earn that assignment for the paper. She soon lieves states and local governments of burden- gained a reputation in the Capital City as a some costs of acquiring new but unnecessary Friday, June 24, 2011 solid reporter. By 1944, she was hired at the voting equipment. Mr. MARINO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in state’s largest newspaper—The Birmingham Several countries are so impressed with our honor of one of my constituents, Mr. Ralph News—where she met her husband to be, system that they have signed agreements with Lomma, in recognition of his successful vision Amasa Benjamin Windham. the EAC for technical assistance as they de- for a prospering community in Susquehanna After the death of her husband in 1956, velop their own voting system standards and County, Pennsylvania. Kathryn Tucker Windham began writing col- certification procedures. This year represents the 50th anniversary of umns for the Selma Times Journal where she The EAC has also played a central role in the establishment of The Village of the Four also gained attention as a skilled photog- improving the accessibility of voting for the Seasons. Mr. Lomma, who founded the Vil- rapher. It wasn’t until 1969, when she wrote country’s more than 37 million voters with dis- lage near the base of Elk Mountain has 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey, that she abilities. We still have a long way to go to worked tirelessly over the past five decades to began her more famous career as a prolific achieve the Help America Vote Act’s mandate create a place where an entire community author and storyteller. to make voting accessible and the EAC’s lead- could enjoy the beauty of every season, in an From 1967 to 2009, she authored over 30 ership is essential to continuing the effort to environment that is both beautiful and secure. books on subjects ranging from southern offer all Americans the right to vote ‘‘privately What began as a loosely connected area of cooking to legends of the supernatural. Her and independently.’’ vacation rentals, has transformed into a cohe- well-known ‘‘Jeffrey’’ series of true ghost sto- Mr. Speaker, it is worth recalling that the sive community, committed to the same prin- ries went on to include tales from Georgia, EAC, an independent bipartisan commission ciples on which Mr. Lomma founded the Vil- Mississippi, Tennessee and other Southern charged with improving the conduct of elec- lage. states. My personal favorite is her charming tions in America to ensure that every vote Since its inception, the community has been 1975 book, Alabama: One Big Front Porch. counts, was born out of the 2000 presidential an active and thriving addition to the sur- While her writing helped establish her bona election fiasco with its unforgettable contribu- rounding area. Every season, the Village of- fides as a storyteller, she did not stop with tions to the political lexicon: ‘‘hanging’’ chads, fers something wonderful to both its residents print. She established the Alabama Tale Tellin’ ‘‘pregnant’’ chads, ‘‘dimpled’’ chads; ‘‘butterfly and its neighbors; from tennis tournaments in Festival in Selma and was a sought-after ballots’’; and ‘‘voter intent.’’ the summer, to New Year’s Eve parties each speaker at storytelling festivals and gatherings In response to the 2000 debacle, the EAC winter. Ralph’s vision of a ‘‘playground for across the country. has performed valuable work to ensure the re- families’’ has truly been realized. Her Southern charm also captured the at- liability and trustworthiness of our nation’s In the coming days, the Village will gather tention of National Public Radio’s All Things election systems. It has played a central role yet again to honor its architect, Mr. Lomma. I Considered, which featured her as a regular in collecting accurate and comparable election am honored to represent such a determined Southern storyteller. She also took to the data. With our nation’s complex and diversified and passionate individual, who works every stage as the star of a one-woman play she election administration system, central data

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