Extensions of Remarks E1097 HON. JIM COSTA
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December 7, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1097 HONORING THE LIFE OF GEORGE baseball legend, Tom Seaver. His legacy will Salem, enrolling in the school’s ROTC pro- THOMAS ‘‘TOM’’ SEAVER be remembered for many years to come. He gram. Upon graduation, John earned a com- truly was terrific. We join his family, friends mission as a second lieutenant and served in HON. JIM COSTA and community in honoring his great life and the 3rd/8th Calvary in Germany during the OF CALIFORNIA legacy. Vietnam era. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f Upon returning to North Carolina with his wife Cecilia, John was asked to serve as a Monday, December 7, 2020 RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF JILL local judge for the 1968 election to help iden- Mr. COSTA. Madam, Speaker, I rise today RICE tify and report election irregularities. After a to honor the life of Major League Baseball leg- break from public service where he helped end, Hall of Famer and military veteran, Mr. HON. TRENT KELLY build and expand the Cecil Budd Tire Com- George Thomas ‘‘Torn’’ Seaver. He was a be- OF MISSISSIPPI pany, John would re-enter politics through his loved father, husband, friend and one of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES work with the Chatham County Republican finest baseball pitchers our country has had Party, eventually becoming its chair. In 1994 the pleasure of watching. Monday, December 7, 2020 he ran (and led the ticket) for a seat on the Tom was born in Fresno, California to Betty Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, Chatham County Board of Commissioners, be- Lee and Charles Henry Seaver. He attended I rise today to commemorate the life of Jill coming the first Republican elected to that Fresno High School and played on the base- Rice, who passed away on November 17, on Board in the 20th century. ball team. After graduating high school, Tom her 78th birthday. After a hard-fought battle In 1999, he was elected to the Siler City worked for his father’s company in the raisin with Alzheimer’s disease, Mrs. Rice is now at Board of Commissioners and served as Mayor industry before joining the United States Ma- peace with our Lord, though she will be deeply Pro Term until his election as Mayor in 2013, rine Corps Reserve in 1962 stationed at 29 missed by those who knew and loved her. his first of four terms. John continuously Palms in California until 1963. He served his Jill was born in Memphis, Tennessee to stressed how seriously he valued the input of eight-year commitment, remaining in the re- Willie Clyde and Mary Lavelle Rowan White. his constituents, saying ‘‘If they don’t hold serves until 1970. She married Massachusetts native Richard (politicians) accountable, anything can hap- Tom attended Fresno City College, while Thomas Rice in September of 1960. Richard pen.’’ working and serving in the reserves. He began dedicated 20 years to the United States Navy Madam Speaker, our country needs more the 1964 season two inches taller and 30 before the couple moved to Mooreville, Mis- public servants like John Franklin Grimes III. pounds stronger at 6’1’’ and 190 pounds and sissippi in 1979. The entire Siler City community is less whole quickly caught the attention of scouts. Tom Mrs. Rice was not only known as a loving today without John, but the impact he made had an 11–1 season, throwing at 90-mph for wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grand- and the lives he touched are a testament to the Fresno City baseball team. He was re- mother, but for her wide variety of interests how special a person he was. Please join me cruited to the University of Southern California in celebrating his life and legacy. (USC) under the guidance of legendary coach and hobbies. As a Black Belt in Taekwondo, Rod Dedeaux. she achieved many awards among her age f His talent and potential as a pitcher was evi- group. She spent her free time with her be- IN HONOR OF SHELLY MASUR dent from the start. In his first season at USC, loved grandchildren and kittens. Tom went 10–2, striking out 100 batters in 100 Jill Rice is survived by her husband of 60 years, Richard Rice; their daughter, Debbie; HON. JACKIE SPEIER innings. He was drafted by the Los Angeles OF CALIFORNIA three grandsons; and three great-grand- Dodgers before returning to school for his jun- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ior year. He was signed by the Atlanta Braves children. She was preceded in death by her Monday, December 7, 2020 in 1966, before landing with the New York son Gary who passed away in 1999. Mets via a lottery. Mrs. Rice embodied a remarkable kindness Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today In 1967, Tom was named an All-Star and and empathy felt by all those she knew. She to recognize Shelly Masur as she departs from won the National League Rookie of the Year will be greatly missed, and I join her loved the city council of Redwood City. When cou- award, after a 16–13 season and 2.76 earned ones in mourning her loss. pled with her 10 years of service as a trustee run average. The Met’s new manager Gil f of the Redwood City School District, she has Hodges immediately saw Tom’s potential and served constituents for a remarkable 15 years. HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY the two formed a strong bond. He was a part When coupled with her related professional OF MAYOR JOHN FRANKLIN of the ‘‘Miracle Mets’’ that won their first World endeavors over even more years, it’s fair to GRIMES III Series in 1969. From 1968 to 1976, Tom had say that it’s been an extremely productive a record nine consecutive 200-strikeout sea- chapter of her life. sons. Tom would go on to play 11 seasons for HON. TED BUDD Shelly has a distinguished career in edu- the Mets, 6 seasons for the Cincinnati Reds, OF NORTH CAROLINA cation as an advocate. For the past five years, 2 seasons with the Chicago White Sox, before IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES she led the nonprofit Californians Dedicated to retiring with the Boston Red Sox. Monday, December 7, 2020 Education Foundation. Under her leadership A right-hander who earned the nickname the organization hosted its first STEM sympo- ‘‘Tom Terrific,’’ Tom won 311 games and Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to sium for 3,000 educators focused on diversi- struck out 3,640 batters over his 20-year honor the life and legacy of Siler City Mayor fying the STEM pipeline, partnered with the major league career. He earned 12 All-Star John Franklin Grimes III, who passed away on California Department of Education by serving selections, led the National League in wins 3 October 20, 2020. John was a stalwart of the as a fiscal agent for grants secured by the de- times. He also won three National League Cy Siler City, North Carolina community where he partment, created forums focused on stand- Young Awards. He was elected to the Base- served as mayor since 2013. He was a serv- ards implementation, and otherwise supported ball Hall of Fame in 1992, earning 98.8 per- ant in the truest sense of the word, always educational reform efforts throughout Cali- cent of the ballots cast by members of Base- willing to go to the back of the line and take fornia. However, it was her service as a trust- ball Writers Association of America. This was care of the needs of others first. ee of the school board that is her enduring the highest voting percentage ever earned at Unsurprisingly, he was one of the select few contribution to education. that time. In 1988, the Mets honored his sto- to be awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Serving on a school board in California is ried career by retiring Tom’s number 41. Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor not for the faint of heart. In one year the dis- After his career in baseball, Tom worked as for remarkable service to the state. trict had to cut its budget by 20 percent. Shelly an announcer for the New York Yankees and John’s character of service was ingrained at did her duty, but she went further. She and the New York Mets. Tom and his wife estab- a young age as his father quickly signed up to her colleagues educated voters about the im- lished a winery in Calistoga, California, Seaver join the U.S. Navy after the attack on Pearl portance of the district, and ultimately a mod- Vineyards along with his family. Tom enjoyed Harbor on December 7, 1941. John would say est parcel tax of $67 passed, followed by a re- time with his family and his vineyard. that, ‘‘Growing up, we presumed to have an newal at $85. These measures strengthened He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and their obligation to serve in the military.’’ Con- district finances enormously. two daughters, Sarah and Anne. sequently, after graduating from Davie County The district is composed of 6700 pre-K to Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join High School, John received a scholarship to 8th grade students from around the globe. Ac- me in celebrating and honoring the life of play football at Wake Forest in Winston- cording to the district, Hispanic/Latino students VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:40 Dec 08, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A07DE8.010 E07DEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with REMARKS E1098 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 7, 2020 make up the largest ethnic group at 68 per- PERSONAL EXPLANATION ber 4, 2020, due to unavoidable personal obli- cent.