September 10, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1467 

HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE 

OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA’S BELOVED, PAULA RIGGS 

HON. JEFF MILLER 

OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, September 10, 2012 

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to recognize the life and service of 

Northwest Florida’s beloved Paula Riggs. Mrs. 

Riggs was a dedicated public servant, a staple 

in the community, and all of Northwest Florida 

mourns her passing. 

Paula Riggs was born in Guantanamo Bay, 

Cuba while her father was serving our nation 

in the United States Navy. As the daughter of 

a naval officer, her family moved around often; 

however, her parents instilled in Mrs. Riggs an 

everlasting love and affection for their native 

home in Northwest Florida. Her interest in 

public service began at a young age, when 

she would spend hours with her uncle Harold 

Goodwin, a former mayor of DeFuniak 

Springs, listening and learning. 

After receiving her college degree from the 

University of North Florida, Paula Riggs decided to move her family to Northwest Florida 

to raise her four children along the Gulf Coast. 

Mrs. Riggs was a loving and devoted mother 

to her children, and she was also known 

throughout her community as a true neighbor 

who offered her kindness to all those she 

knew. She became a successful small business owner, before joining the Mary Esther 

City Council in 1995. 

Mrs. Riggs’ had a deep commitment to helping those who were most in need of assistance, and she continued her service to Northwest Florida in 1998 when she was elected as 

a County Commissioner for Okaloosa County, 

Florida. As a County Commissioner she was 

known for her assiduous work ethic and steadfast commitment to improving the community. 

In addition to her service on the County Commission, she served as Chairman of the 

Okaloosa-Walton County Transportation Planning Organization, as well as Chairman of the 

State Library Council, and her hard work and 

leadership earned her an appointment by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the Intergovernmental Relations Legislative Council. 

Although she was forced to step down from 

her position on the County Commission in 

2004 due to illness, she remained a steadfast 

presence in the community. 

To some, Paula Riggs will be remembered 

as a dedicated public servant and a successful small business owner. To others, she will 

be remembered as a generous and caring 

neighbor always willing to lend a hand. To her 

family, she will most fondly be remembered as 

a wonderful and loving mother to her four children and an inspiration to her two grandchildren. Her impact on Northwest Florida was 

immense, and her legacy will never be forgotten. 

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States 

Congress, it gives me great pride to honor the 

life and service of Paula Riggs. My wife Vicki 

joins me in extending our most sincere condolences to the entire Riggs family. 

JIM AND BOBBIE MELLO’S 70TH 

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

HON. JEFF DENHAM OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, September 10, 2012 

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

congratulate and honor Jim and Bobbie Mello 

on the occasion of their 70th Wedding Anniversary which they celebrated on September 

6, 2012. 

James Mello, born in Turlock on April 18, 

1922, was destined to meet Barbara (Bobbie) 

McDonald, born in Turlock on April 12, 1926. 

Fate finally intervened on a summer day when 

they met when she was picnicking at Crane 

Park. Jim came by riding his horse and spotted her. Being a 20 year-old romantic, he devised a plan to meet Bobbie. The plan was to 

come back a while later and throw watermelons at her. Well, it worked perfectly, and 

Jim and Bobbie were married about two 

months later. 

The plan was to borrow the best man’s car 

and drive to Minden, Nevada on September 5, 

1942, to marry. However, on that day, the best 

man had his tires repossessed. Undaunted, 

they borrowed the car of Jim’s employer, 

drove to Minden, and were married the next 

day. 

Two months later, in November, Jim left to 

join the U.S. Army. Bobbie moved back to live 

with her Grandmother, who had raised her 

and her younger sister, Gloria, since they 

were very young children. Three years later, 

Jim returned from World War II, where he 

served as a tanker under General George Patton and was in the famous ‘‘Battle of the 

Bulge.’’ 

After his return from service, he worked for 

Turlock Trenching Company. Jim and his 

brother-in-law, Clinton Hayes, bought the company in 1951 and ran it out of Jim and Bobbie’s 10 acre ranch for many years. In 1987, 

Jim went to work for Swanson Farms until his 

retirement in 2003. 

After Jim retired, he and Bobbie moved into 

their present home in the city of Turlock. They 

have two daughters—their eldest daughter is 

Sandra, married to Steve Vieira. Sandy and 

Steve just celebrated their 49th anniversary. 

Their youngest daughter, Janice, married Bob 

Borba. Jan and Bob will soon celebrate their 

47th anniversary. Jim and Bobbie have four 

grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. 

In addition to running their own business, 

Jim and Bobbie were very involved in their 

community. Jim served 30 years as a volunteer fireman and retired as Assistant Chief of 

Turlock Rural Fire Department. They both are 

lifetime members of the Turlock Horsemen’s 

Club and belong to several organizations including American Legion, VFW, Native Daughters of the Golden West, and have volunteered for many organizations and causes 

over the years. They serve as great role models for their family. 

Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating 

the partnership, love, and trust that aided Jim 

and Bobbie in reaching this milestone of an 

anniversary. Congratulations on the past 70 

years, and I wish you the best success in the 

years to come. 

HONORING THE CAREER OF 

MAJOR GENERAL GERALD L. 

PRATHER AND HIS BEING 

NAMED ‘‘PERSON OF THE DECADE’’ IN DEL RIO, TX BY THE 

BOY SCOUTS 

HON. FRANCISCO ‘‘QUICO’’ CANSECO OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, September 10, 2012 

Mr. CANSECO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

honor the life and career of a true American 

hero—Air Force Major General Gerald L. 

Prather. General Prather was born in LaGrange, Georgia in 1935. He enlisted in the 

Air Force in 1954, and received his pilot wings 

and commission in August of 1956. During his 

distinguished career, General Prather has 

flown F–84F’s, F–100D’s, C–130’s, and was a 

B–52 pilot and training instructor. In 1967 he 

was assigned to Mactan Isle Airfield in the 

Philippines, where he completed more than 

500 combat support missions in Southeast 

Asia. The general eventually became the commander of the European Communications 

Area in 1977, and was promoted to Major 

General in March of 1983, with date of rank 

July 1, 1979. General Prather’s military decorations include the Distinguished Service 

Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, 

Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal 

with ‘‘V’’ device, Meritorious Service Medal, Air 

Medal with two oak leaf cluster, Air Force 

Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air 

Force and Marine Presidential Unit Citation 

Emblems, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 

Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force 

Organization Excellence Award Ribbon. 

General Prather’s life and career embodies 

the best of America and of our armed forces, 

and just recently he was named by the Boy 

Scouts as the ‘‘Man of the Decade’’ in Del 

Rio, TX, home of Laughlin Air Force Base. 

General Prather was also honored this past 

weekend when Laughlin Air Force base 

named a street on the base after him—a great 

honor for a great American. 

As the representative of the 23rd District of 

Texas, which includes Del Rio and Laughlin 

Air Force Base, I wish to congratulate General 

Prather on his recent honors and thank him 

for a tremendous life of service to our nation. 

f 

NAVY LT. BRAD SNYDER EARNS 

OLYMPIC GOLD 

HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, September 10, 2012 

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

to provide my colleagues with an update on a 

remarkable young man, Navy Lt. Brad Snyder, 

of St. Petersburg, Florida, an American hero 

who lost his eye sight in Afghanistan while 

carrying out an extremely dangerous mission 

as a member of an explosive ordinance detail. 

When I last reported to you in July, Lt. Snyder, who I had the privilege to appoint to the 

U.S. Naval Academy, had just qualified to represent the United States swim team at the 

London 2012 Paralympic Games. Today, I am 

proud to report to you that Lt. Snyder has 

brought home two gold medals and one silver 


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