E8 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 7, 2014 HONORING DOUGLAS L. BRAGG necessary to help transition successfully into Mr. Joanis’ more than three decade career civilian life. at Telamon allowed him the opportunity to HON. BARBARA LEE On behalf of the residents of California’s serve in many capacities on behalf of those to OF CALIFORNIA 13th Congressional District, Mr. Douglas whom he gave voice. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Bragg, I salute you. I congratulate you on your He served on the U.S. Department of La- many achievements, and I wish you and your bor’s National Advisory Committee on services Tuesday, January 7, 2014 loved ones all the very best as you transition to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and also Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to this exciting new chapter of life. was a member of the Agricultural Employment today to honor Mr. Douglas L. Bragg for his f Work Group set up by the Secretaries of Agri- extraordinary career of public service and culture and Labor. Mr. Joanis was former leadership on the occasion of his retirement. HONORING JIMMY DIXON president of the Association of Farmworker Mr. Bragg is retiring after thirty-four years of Opportunity Programs, a national federation of dedicated service to the United States Depart- HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON farmworker services organizations, now in its ment of Veterans Affairs (VA), where he has OF MISSISSIPPI 42nd year. served as Director of the Oakland VA Re- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES At Telemon Corporation, Mr. Joanis built the gional Office since October 2011. organization from a one-state operation into a Tuesday, January 7, 2014 Mr. Bragg is a Vietnam Era veteran who nationally recognized multi-disciplinary non- served in the United States Air Force from Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- profit organization serving America’s migrant 1970 to 1973. Mr. Bragg began his career with er, I rise today to honor a hardworking and and seasonal farmworkers, children, youth and the VA in 1979 at the San Francisco VA Re- self motivated black farmer, Mr. Jimmy Dixon, the rural poor in eleven states. gional Office. In 1986, he took on the role as who was born on June 12, 1953 to the late In 2004, in recognition of his accomplish- a Veterans Benefits Counselor and also Colie and Anna Mae Dixon. ments, Mr. Joanis was inducted into the Order served as the station’s outreach coordinator. Mr. Jimmy Dixon was the 6th child of 12 of the Long Leaf Pine in my great state of He was at the forefront of the Regional Of- children, a native of Copiah County, Mis- North Carolina. fice’s response to the Loma Prieta earthquake, sissippi and was born and raised on the farm. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Joanis has spent his ca- as he was primarily responsible for the out- Mr. Jimmy Dixon is passionate about the reer building hope, helping others see their in- reach efforts to victims of the earthquake. farming industry. His heart for farming stems herent potential, and positively impacting He joined the Veterans Benefits Administra- from his late father, Mr. Colic Dixon, Sr. Even countless lives by creating an upward trajec- tion as a Supervisory Field Examiner in 1989. during struggling times for farmers, he and tory for people around the nation. Mr. Joanis In 1994, he accepted a position as a Program several of his siblings helped their father to answered the nation’s calling to assist its citi- Analyst in the Veterans Assistance Service build the legacy to raise cattle and harvest hay zens when they are most in need. (VAS) at the VA Central Office in Washington, and plant corn, watermelons, okra, peas, Through his efforts on behalf of disadvan- DC, where he worked on the Foreign Medical sweet potatoes and other produce. They taged Americans, Mr. Joanis demonstrated Program, performed station surveys, and was worked hard to acquire land and equipment. that as citizens we are at our best when we a member of the VAS Business Process Re- Together they owned over 300 acres of land. are engaged in service to others, especially engineering team. Mr. Dixon went to Brushy Creek Attendance when that service leads to the empowerment In 1996, Mr. Bragg went on to become an Center, an all black school and attended of our fellow citizens and the improvement of analyst for the Fiduciary Program on the Pol- Holtzclaw High School and graduated from our communities. icy and Regulations staff. He returned to the Crystal Springs High School, the first year I ask my colleagues to join me in recog- field in 1999 following his appointment as the they segregated in 1971. He joined the U.S. nizing and thanking Mr. Joanis for his tireless Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager at Army in 1979 and became a Military Police- work on behalf of those who are less fortu- the Washington, DC VA Regional Office. Dur- man. He went to the conflict in the Persian nate. ing his tenure in this position, he was accept- Gulf in 1990 until 1991 and served in the Gulf f ed into Leadership VA through the VA Learn- War, receiving an Accommodation Medal ing University, the VA’s corporate university Award in 1991 and retired in 1992. HONORING MAUDE L. WILLIAMS for VA employees to develop leadership and Mr. Dixon is married to Marlene and they BALLOU other management skills, and graduated in have three boys and one girl along with four 2002. He became the Acting Veterans Service grandchildren. He and his family attends Tem- HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON Center Manager at Washington Regional Of- ple of Yah Hebrew Israelite Assembly in Terry, OF MISSISSIPPI fice in 2003. Mississippi. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES In 2004, Mr. Bragg joined the management Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me Tuesday, January 7, 2014 team of the St. Louis VA Regional Office as in recognizing Mr. Jimmy Dixon for his dedica- the Education Program Manager. He further tion and endurance of successful farming. Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- developed his leadership credentials while f er, I rise today to honor a remarkable public serving as the Acting Assistant Director in servant, Mrs. Maude L. Williams Ballou, who 2007, completing the Leadership for a Demo- RECOGNIZING THE TIRELESS was born in Fairhope, Alabama, and raised in cratic Society course at the Federal Executive WORK OF MR. RICHARD A. JOANIS Mobile. She received a Bachelor of Science in Institute in 2007. He was accepted as a partic- business administration in 1947 from Southern ipant in the FY 2007 Assistant Director Devel- HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After opment Program. OF NORTH CAROLINA marrying music instructor, Leonard Ballou, she He served as Assistant Director of the St. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and her husband relocated to Montgomery, Louis VA Regional Office from 2008 through Alabama in 1952. Mrs. Ballou met Jo Ann 2011. He was appointed to the Oakland VA Tuesday, January 7, 2014 Robinson before the start of the bus boycott Regional Office as Director in October 2011. Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to and talked with her about how to obtain better In this capacity, Mr. Bragg has had the re- recognize a great American who has spent his conditions for blacks in Montogmery. sponsibility of overseeing California’s 1.8 mil- career working to help the underserved in our After Martin Luther King’s election as presi- lion veteran population. From the Oakland VA country—especially migrant and seasonal dent of the Montgomery Improvement Asso- Regional Office, over 127,000 Californian vet- farmworkers. ciation (MIA) at the start of the Montgomery erans receive benefits with the total monthly Richard A. Joanis spent 33 years as Execu- bus boycott, Maude Ballou became his per- compensation and payment benefits paid at tive Director of Telamon Corporation, one of sonal secretary. over $146 million. the nation’s most successful nonprofit organi- After becoming King’s secretary at the MIA, Throughout his prolific career with the VA, zations operating federal programs. He retires Mrs. Ballou helped coordinate carpools during Mr. Bragg has been praised for his strategy, on February 14, 2014 after 44 years of service the boycott. She often responded on King’s strong leadership, integrity and compassion. to farmworkers, elderly and other disadvan- behalf to his correspondence. Mrs. Ballou ac- He has worked hard to create opportunities for taged populations including major program ef- companied Dr. King when he moved to Atlanta veterans, a critical commitment that we must forts in Head Start, adult and youth training in 1960, staying with the King family and as- continue to honor to make sure our veterans and employment, home ownership, housing sisting him in establishing his office at the come home to good jobs and services that are rehabilitation, and homeless services. Southern Christian Leadership Conference

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:56 Jan 08, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A07JA8.011 E07JAPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS January 7, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E9 headquarters there. Mrs. Ballou left that sum- RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE life, with the exception of some years that he mer to rejoin her family in Peterburg, Virginia, PAM TRUSDALE’S 15TH ANNIVER- lived in Chicago. He left Mississippi, a farmer where her husband had accepted a position at SARY AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and relocated back to Mississippi approxi- Virginia State College. OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION mately four decades ago. If it was possible, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me OF TRAILER MANUFACTURERS one might say that farming is in his DNA. He in recognizing Mrs. Maude L. Ballou for her is just that passionate about the farming in- dedication to serving others. HON. LYNN JENKINS dustry. His heart for farming stems from his OF KANSAS late father, Harrison B. (HB) Hart, who was f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES one of the largest African-American farmers in Holmes County, even during struggling times Tuesday, January 7, 2014 CELEBRATING THE LIFE ACHIEVE- for farmers. John Hart and several of his sib- MENTS OF GORDON B. ZACKS Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to lings helped their father to build the legacy. recognize my constituent and friend, Pam Today, Mr. Hart still carries on his father’s Trusdale, on the occasion of her 15th anniver- legacy through a successful farming business HON. PATRICK J. TIBERI sary as Executive Director of the National As- of his own. One of his brothers also has a sociation of Trailer Manufacturers. From thriving farming business. To work from before OF OHIO NATM’s headquarters in my Congressional sun up to pitch black dark is the norm for this IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES District in Topeka, Kansas, Pam leads advo- hill farmer, who has also farmed hundreds of cacy, outreach and safety-promotion efforts on acres in the Mississippi Delta. Cotton, corn Tuesday, January 7, 2014 behalf of the light and medium duty trailer in- and soybeans have mainly been his crops of Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to dustry, one that is responsible for hundreds of choice over the years. This year, just for fun, honor and celebrate the life achievements of thousands of American jobs and several billion he has added 20 acres of ‘‘delicious’’ water- Gordon B. Zacks. dollars of positive economic output. melons that have become in popular demand The great work NATM does on behalf of its by local and area consumers and grocery Expressing how much Gordy has meant to members and the industry at large would cer- businesses. Central Ohio and the nation is an impossible tainly not be possible without Pam’s 15 years Just like other industries, the farming busi- task. As a fellow graduate of The Ohio State of leadership and vision. When she joined the ness for Mr. Hart and others have had its University, as an admirer and as a friend of organization in 1998, it was a fledgling group share of blows. In a November 22, 2009 New this remarkable person, it gives me great of a handful of companies who joined together York Times article by Shaila Dewan titled, ‘‘In pleasure to add my personal appreciation and to better the industry’s future. Since that time, Mississippi Delta, a Promising Summer commendation. membership has expanded dramatically and Washed Away by the Fall,’’ Mr. Hart was one Gordy served with distinction as an advisor, NATM’s advocacy on behalf of its members in of the featured farmers interviewed for the arti- confidant, and friend of U.S. presidents to help Washington, D.C. has, as well. Soon, NATM cle about continuous rain that had damaged change the political landscape of the American will move into a new headquarters building in farm crops that year for farmers in Mississippi, Jewish community and improve U.S. relations Topeka in order to accommodate its growth in Alabama, Georgia, eastern Arkansas, and on behalf of Israel and its neighboring Arab staff and continue serving its members. parts of Louisiana. ‘‘You just keep going,’’ Hart states. Gordy worked with three U.S. presi- Among the many initiatives in which Pam’s is quoted saying in the article. dents and five Israeli Prime Ministers, and his leadership has been instrumental is the cre- Mr. Hart is also a cattle rancher. Yes, the political involvement reached its highpoint dur- ation of NATM’s Compliance Verification Pro- man who has turned dirt for decades also ing the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. gram. Through the Program, NATM’s technical raises cattle. He owns a herd of cattle from Bush presidencies. Gordy declined an ambas- staff visits members’ manufacturing plants to good stock. How does he do it all with only sadorship in the Reagan-Bush Administration ensure the proper procedures are in place to the help of two farm hands? Only God knows. and a Cabinet post during the Bush-Quayle build trailers that are in accordance with fed- Although the Mississippi farming business Administration in order to serve as unofficial eral safety regulations and best industry prac- has seen its share of ups and downs, Mr. Hart advisor and confidant to Vice President and tices. Pam has guided the Program from its still remains steadfast to his passion even subsequently President Bush. He met privately creation through a unanimous vote to make though at 65 he could be sitting on the beau- with Vice President and then President Bush participation mandatory for membership in the tiful front porch of their ranch house with his on a monthly basis to discuss Israeli/American Association. When consumers across the wife, Prince Ella Edwards Hart, of 44 years, relations, the Middle East peace process, So- country see the NATM decal on a dealer’s looking out over the horizon of land God has viet Jewry, Ethiopian Jewry, and the political showroom floor, they know instantly they are blessed them with. landscape of the American Jewish community. purchasing a safety compliant trailer. Mr. Hart is a graduate of Tchula Attendance Center (now, S.V. Marshall High School). He Blessed with true ambition, Gordy is also a In addition to her efforts leading NATM, and his wife, a retiree in the medical arena, brilliant businessman who catapulted R.G. Pam has also been active in serving the To- have three adult children and three grand- Barry Corporation from a small family firm into peka community. She currently serves on the Board of Regents of Washburn University, her children. an international footwear industry leader. He Will this be the year Mr. Hart brings all of alma mater, and is active with the Kansas So- joined the Columbus, Ohio-based company in his farm’s heavy equipment out of the fields ciety of Association Executives. She is also a 1955 and became president in 1965. He was for good, recline in that chair beside his de- member of the Stormont-Vail Foundation Advi- elected CEO of the company in 1979 and re- voted wife and friends on that front porch? sory Board and past chairwoman of the tired in 2004. He is currently the Chairman of Who knows? the Board of Directors for the company. Stormont-Vail Foundation Board of Trustees. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me Today, R.G. Barry is the world’s largest mar- Congratulations, Pam, on this milestone. in recognizing Mr. John T. Hart for his impec- keter and supplier of at-and-around-the-home May you and NATM enjoy many more suc- cable dedication and endurance of successful comfort footwear for men, women and chil- cessful years. farming. dren, under the brand name of Dearfoams. f f Gordy’s book Defining Moments—Stories of HONORING JOHN T. HART Character, Courage, and Leadership profiles THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DIS- remarkable leaders who have made the world TRICT OF COLUMBIA PAPER- a better place. Gordan Zacks has built his own HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON WORK REDUCTION ACT legacy of leadership and integrity—the bene- OF MISSISSIPPI fits of which have accrued to his family, his IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON friends and all those who are privileged to Tuesday, January 7, 2014 OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES know him. Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- On behalf of the citizens of Ohio’s 12th er, I rise today to honor a hardworking and Tuesday, January 7, 2014 Congressional District, I would like to thank self motivated 65 year old black farmer, John Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I intro- Gordy for his devotion to the great state of T. Hart, who just keeps on going. duce the District of Columbia Paperwork Re- Ohio and to all of the communities that have Mr. John T. Hart, a native of Holmes Coun- duction Act, to eliminate the wasteful congres- benefitted from his invaluable contributions. ty, Mississippi, has been a farmer most of his sional review process for legislation passed by

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