January 3, 2005

Dear Jim,

During your 34 years and 5 months of service in the National Weather
Service you have earned a reputation for a creative leadership style
marked by infectious enthusiasm and energy. Jim, you have worked
tirelessly to broaden the public's awareness of the value of storm
readiness and preparedness. The National Weather Service is blessed to
be on the receiving end of your years of steady and imaginative
leadership that has set a standard of excellence in your roles as
Meteorologist In Charge (May 1996 to January 2005), Acting Meteorologist
In Charge (February 1996 to May 1996) and Deputy Meteorologist In Charge
(June 1986 to February 1996) at the Weather Forecast Office in Memphis.

You have built many partnerships with Emergency Management, the media,
and first responders, stressing always the importance of building strong
relationships within the Mid South community and the National Weather
Service. This has enhanced our mission to work together to save lives.
Your skilled dedication and leadership brought forth the exemplary
performance of your staff during the devastating Mid South May 4 to May
8, 2003 tornado outbreak. The Secretary of Commerce bestowed the Gold
Medal \-- the Department\'s highest honors award \-- for extraordinary
achievements in support of our organization's critical objectives. Your
great leadership was again epitomized when the Department of Commerce
presented a Bronze Medal to the Memphis forecast office for its major
life saving contributions involving the tornado outbreak in November
2001. The WFO Memphis was also presented with a Silver Medal for the
life saving performance during the January 1999 tornado outbreak.

In your career there was one definite and defining moment that will stay
with you forever. This moment defined your future outlook and changed
the lens you saw the world. August 2, 1985 is a day Dallas, Texas and
you will never forget. On a Delta Airlines flight 191, a Lockheed
L-1011-385-1, carried 167 passengers and crew traveling to Los Angeles
from Fort Lauderdale with a stop at Dallas/Ft. Worth. On that dark day
in Dallas, 167 passengers were driven literally into the ground by a
microburst. During this time, Jim, you were serving in the role as
Regional Aviation Meteorologist (RAM) for Southern Region (December 1983
to June 1986). You were called to investigate the crash of Delta 191.
You were the longest testifying witness in a government trial in
history. Your leadership brought forth a prestigious award for your
dedication to the National Weather Service during the investigation and
trial.

Jim, you have had a long and brilliant career. You started your
government career when you dropped out of high school and enlisted in
the U.S. Navy in 1960. You went to Meteorology School in the Navy and
worked as a forecaster on three ships in the Mediterranean and in the
Cuban Missile Crisis. You were the youngest E5 in the Navy at age 19.
You were discharged from the Navy in 1963.

After the Navy, you married your sweetheart and wife Sharon, and also
worked for the Caterpillar Tractor Company for a couple years before
attending college to earn a degree in meteorology. You earned this
coveted degree from Northern Illinois in June 1970 which certainly
helped to kick-start a successful career. Shortly after graduation you
started your career in the National Weather Service in July 1970 as a
Meteorologist Intern at Indianapolis, Indiana, and where you were
promoted on station as an assistant weather forecaster in 1973. You
transferred and were promoted as you and your family moved to Cheyenne,
Wyoming in October 1975 where you were a lead weather forecaster until
April 1978.

You came to Southern Region in April 1978 as an ARTCC Resource
Meteorologist at the CWSU Atlanta. You stayed in Atlanta and moved over
to the WSFO Atlanta as a Journeyman Forecaster in September 1979. At the
WSFO Atlanta you were promoted on station as a Lead Forecaster in
February 1980, where you remained in this position until December 1983
before coming to Fort Worth as the RAM.

Jim, your roots are deep in commitment to the National Weather Service
where you stretched as far as you could by giving of yourself and
providing for others. You will forever be part of the National Weather
Service family. You have given it your all as you have contributed to
our strong heritage through your many years of hard work and devotion.
We wish you and Sharon well with much joy and happiness as you guys sail
off into the proverbial sunset.

Sincerely,

X. William Proenza, Director, Southern Region