114 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 160, Pt. 1 January 7, 2014 well as for the many contributions that his Mr. Bragg is a Vietnam Era veteran who HONORING JIMMY DIXON family of auto dealerships has made to the served in the United States Air Force from local community and state’s economy as a 1970 to 1973. Mr. Bragg began his career with HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON whole. The new Volkswagen dealership is Mr. the VA in 1979 at the San Francisco VA Re- OF MISSISSIPPI Case’s fifth addition to the area known as gional Office. In 1986, he took on the role as IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘‘Davie/Weston auto row,’’ and creates 200 a Veterans Benefits Counselor and also Tuesday, January 7, 2014 new jobs, including sales staff, service techni- served as the station’s outreach coordinator. cians, and receptionists. He was at the forefront of the Regional Of- Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- At eight stories high and 328,000 square fice’s response to the Loma Prieta earthquake, er, I rise today to honor a hardworking and feet, Rick Case Volkswagen claims the title of as he was primarily responsible for the out- self-motivated black farmer, Mr. Jimmy Dixon, world’s largest auto dealership for the German reach efforts to victims of the earthquake. who was born on June 12, 1953 to the late car company. Around 800 new and used Colie and Anna Mae Dixon. Volkswagen vehicles are on display in each of He joined the Veterans Benefits Administra- Mr. Jimmy Dixon was the 6th child of 12 the dealerships showroom floors. Furthermore, tion as a Supervisory Field Examiner in 1989. children, a native of Copiah County, Mis- the new facility also features a service center, In 1994, he accepted a position as a Program sissippi and was born and raised on the farm. a cafe and lounge area for customers, and a Analyst in the Veterans Assistance Service Mr. Jimmy Dixon is passionate about the floor for offices and staff training. Rick Case (VAS) at the VA Central Office in Washington, farming industry. His heart for farming stems Automotive Group has 15 auto dealerships in DC, where he worked on the Foreign Medical from his late father, Mr. Colic Dixon, Sr. Even Ohio, Georgia, and Florida, featuring a wide Program, performed station surveys, and was during struggling times for farmers, he and range of makes and models, and is expected a member of the VAS Business Process Re- several of his siblings helped their father to to continue its growth. engineering team. build the legacy to raise cattle and harvest hay Competitive customer benefits and em- and plant corn, watermelons, okra, peas, In 1996, Mr. Bragg went on to become an ployee training have come to be the hallmark sweet potatoes and other produce. They of the Rick Case model. In 2013, Rick Case analyst for the Fiduciary Program on the Pol- worked hard to acquire land and equipment. Automotive Group was named by Automotive icy and Regulations staff. He returned to the Together they owned over 300 acres of land. News as its National All-Star Dealer for the field in 1999 following his appointment as the Mr. Dixon went to Brushy Creek Attendance Privately Held Dealer category, an honor re- Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager at Center, an all black school and attended ceived by only one dealer out of over 17,000 the Washington, DC VA Regional Office. Dur- Holtzclaw High School and graduated from dealers nationwide. In addition, Mr. Case’s ing his tenure in this position, he was accept- Crystal Springs High School, the first year commitment to his customers is matched by ed into Leadership VA through the VA Learn- they segregated in 1971. He joined the U.S. his dedication to the community. As a local ing University, the VA’s corporate university Army in 1979 and became a Military Police- partner, he has helped to raise millions of dol- for VA employees to develop leadership and man. He went to the conflict in the Persian lars for charities like the Boys and Girls Clubs other management skills, and graduated in Gulf in 1990 until 1991 and served in the Gulf of America. 2002. He became the Acting Veterans Service War, receiving an Accommodation Medal The auto dealer industry contributes greatly Center Manager at Washington Regional Of- Award in 1991 and retired in 1992. to our nation’s economy and that of our state fice in 2003. Mr. Dixon is married to Marlene and they and local communities. In particular, auto deal- have three boys and one girl along with four In 2004, Mr. Bragg joined the management er sales represent about $47 billion annually. grandchildren. He and his family attends Tem- team of the St. Louis VA Regional Office as Florida ranks as the third-largest state in the ple of Yah Hebrew Israelite Assembly in Terry, country in terms of number of vehicles, the the Education Program Manager. He further Mississippi. sale of which account for 16 percent of retail developed his leadership credentials while Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me sales tax. Furthermore, there are approxi- serving as the Acting Assistant Director in in recognizing Mr. Jimmy Dixon for his dedica- mately 850 new car dealers in Florida, pro- 2007, completing the Leadership for a Demo- tion and endurance of successful farming. viding tens of thousands of direct jobs and cratic Society course at the Federal Executive f supporting millions more in related sectors. Institute in 2007. He was accepted as a partic- Auto dealers help many hardworking individ- ipant in the FY 2007 Assistant Director Devel- RECOGNIZING THE TIRELESS uals afford the vehicles they need to access opment Program. WORK OF MR. RICHARD A. JOANIS job opportunities and support their families. He served as Assistant Director of the St. Mr. Speaker, as our nation continues to re- Louis VA Regional Office from 2008 through HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD cover from the greatest recession in recent 2011. He was appointed to the Oakland VA OF NORTH CAROLINA memory, we should recognize American busi- Regional Office as Director in October 2011. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nesses that are driving job creation and eco- In this capacity, Mr. Bragg has had the re- Tuesday, January 7, 2014 nomic growth. Once again, I would like to con- sponsibility of overseeing California’s 1.8 mil- gratulate Mr. Rick Case and his wife Rita on Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to lion veteran population. From the Oakland VA the recent grand opening of their Volkswagen recognize a great American who has spent his Regional Office, over 127,000 Californian vet- dealership, and wish them much continued career working to help the underserved in our erans receive benefits with the total monthly success in the years to come. country—especially migrant and seasonal compensation and payment benefits paid at f farmworkers. over $146 million. Richard A. Joanis spent 33 years as Execu- HONORING DOUGLAS L. BRAGG Throughout his prolific career with the VA, tive Director of Telamon Corporation, one of Mr. Bragg has been praised for his strategy, the nation’s most successful nonprofit organi- HON. BARBARA LEE strong leadership, integrity and compassion. zations operating federal programs. He retires OF CALIFORNIA He has worked hard to create opportunities for on February 14, 2014 after 44 years of service IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES veterans, a critical commitment that we must to farmworkers, elderly and other disadvan- taged populations including major program ef- Tuesday, January 7, 2014 continue to honor to make sure our veterans come home to good jobs and services that are forts in Head Start, adult and youth training Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise necessary to help transition successfully into and employment, home ownership, housing today to honor Mr. Douglas L. Bragg for his rehabilitation, and homeless services. civilian life. extraordinary career of public service and Mr. Joanis’ more than three decade career leadership on the occasion of his retirement. On behalf of the residents of California’s at Telamon allowed him the opportunity to Mr. Bragg is retiring after thirty-four years of 13th Congressional District, Mr. Douglas serve in many capacities on behalf of those to dedicated service to the United States Depart- Bragg, I salute you. I congratulate you on your whom he gave voice. ment of Veterans Affairs (VA), where he has many achievements, and I wish you and your He served on the U.S. Department of La- served as Director of the Oakland VA Re- loved ones all the very best as you transition bor’s National Advisory Committee on services gional Office since October 2011. to this exciting new chapter of life. to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and also

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