E2252 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 19, 2008 

next generations. By doing this, he has created irreplaceable opportunities which would 

not have existed for these children without 

him. By remaining personally involved in their 

experiences and progress, he has empowered 

them to believe in the importance of their own 

efforts and to commit themselves to carrying 

others up behind him, as he has done for so 

many years. Dr. Smith has shown our community that we can live our lives with eloquence, 

devotion, and with a deep respect for all of 

God’s children. 

In Pastor Smith’s retirement years, it is certain that he and his brilliant and beautiful wife, 

the Reverend Bernestine Farley-Smith, will 

continue to contribute to our society immensely and spread the benefits of their many 

collective years of experience by serving their 

community, enjoying their family, and most importantly walking and talking with God. 

Today, the residents of California’s 9th and 

13th Congressional Districts join with the 

members of Allen Temple Baptist Church, its 

community allies, fellow congregations, and 

Pastor Smith’s loving family to celebrate his 

years of service and wish him a most happy 

and fruitful retirement. Our sincere gratitude 

goes out to Dr. Smith’s three sons, two daughters, fourteen grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren for sharing this visionary leader 

and wonderful human being with us. We are 

all better people for having had the blessing of 

this man’s friendship and guidance. May he 

and his wife rejoice and enjoy their time together for many happy years to come. 

f 

HONORING THE SERVICE AND 

RETIREMENT OF JIM TURNER 

HON. BART GORDON OF TENNESSEE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam 

Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service 

of a valued staff member—James H. Turner, 

Jr.—who will retire at the end of this year from 

the staff of the Committee on Science and 

Technology. As the Chief Counsel for the Full 

Committee, Jim’s expertise in law and science 

policy is unmatched. 

Jim first came to Capitol Hill as Legislative 

Counsel for Congressman Gary Myers in 

1975. During his 29 years of working on the 

Hill, Jim has served many roles for the Committee, including Technology Team Leader 

and Subcommittee Staff Director. He has 

worked across the board on the Committee’s 

legislative agenda, especially in the areas of 

technology and energy policy. In addition, 

Jim’s dedication and hard work were crucial to 

the creation and passage of the StevensonWydler Act and the Bayh-Dole Act which reshaped technology transfer policy. Also, Jim 

played a key role in the development and 

maintenance of the Small Business Innovation 

Research (SBIR) program. 

Jim holds degrees from Georgetown and 

Yale Universities and from Westminster College and attended the Senior Managers in 

Government Program at Harvard’s Kennedy 

School of Government. Before his time on the 

Committee, Jim worked for Wheelabrator-Frye, 

Congressman Myers, the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration (NASA), and the 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In addition, he served on the Clinton Presidential 

transition team and as a social worker for the 

state of Connecticut. 

Outside of work, Jim is involved in his 

church as a Chairperson for the St. Columba’s 

Episcopal Church Outreach Steering Committee. Jim also dedicates his time to advising 

young people as a mentor for the Georgetown 

University Law School and as the Washington 

Coordinator for the MIT/UVA summer internship program. Over the years, Jim has been 

known for his efforts in helping young professionals obtain jobs and providing ongoing career advice. 

Madame Speaker, Jim’s dedication and 

work ethic have made him a valued member 

of the Committee staff. I know that all of the 

Science and Technology Committee’s Members and staff wish him and his wife Betty well 

in their journey ahead. In closing, I just want 

to say thank you, Jim, for your many years of 

dedicated public service. You will be missed. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO JOE BOLGER 

HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise to 

honor one of Jackson County’s finest political 

leaders, Joe Bolger, Jr. who died on November 18, 2008. He grew up proud of his Eastern 

Jackson County roots. He attended the University of Missouri and graduated with a bachelor of science in 1955. By the age of 36 he 

was happily married to Joanne Kobe Bolger 

and had three children, Kathleen, Brian and 

Craig. By this time in his life, he had garnered 

the respect of his community as he served as 

president of the Jackson County Chamber and 

had been appointed to the State Water Pollution Board by Missouri Governor Warren E. 

Hearnes. With the support of friends and family he entered the political arena running for 

the Democratic nomination for Jackson County 

Eastern District Judge, a seat that had been 

held by President Harry S. Truman. He filed 

his papers at the Jackson County Clerk’s office in the Independence Courthouse, which 

he insisted was the real county seat, a debate 

that continues today. 

In 1970 Joe Bolger, Jr. was elected Eastern 

Judge of Jackson County, joining Presiding 

Judge George W. Lehr and Western Judge 

Harry Wiggins. All three judges were in their 

30’s with Joe Bolger, Jr. being the youngest of 

the judges. They were a dynamic combination 

and set Jackson County on a path of prosperity and growth. He was a strong advocate 

and defender for Eastern Jackson County. He 

believed in listening and learning from his constituents. While fighting for the rights of Eastern Jackson County, Joe Bolger, Jr. stated in 

The Kansas City Star article, ‘‘We would like 

to look upon you as our big brother. . . . not 

be seen as stepchildren. The eastern and 

western districts are two different worlds, and 

I’m not pleased with your attitude toward the 

balance of the county.’’ He spoke of the future 

and warned that the population would soon 

shift outside Kansas City. He fought for the 

sports complex, infrastructure improvements, 

economic opportunities, and better schools. 

He served for two years, 1971 and 1972. 

History will record that he was the last Eastern 

Jackson County Judge. In his last year, 1972, 

the Truman Sports Complex opened in Eastern Jackson County. We were the talk of the 

sports nation as we cut the ribbon on the top 

designed major league facilities. 

By 1973, Jackson County had adopted a 

charter form of government, consisting of a 

County Executive and 15 legislators. Joe Bolger Jr. was voted to continue his service as a 

member of the original 15 legislators, representing northeast Jackson County. He was a 

powerful voice as he served with three Jackson County Executives. After the second 

County Executive, Mike White, decided not to 

run for another term, many asked Joe Bolger, 

Jr. to run but he declined. He served on the 

Jackson County Legislature for ten years, 

leaving all of Jackson County a better place to 

live. He brought industry and commerce to 

Eastern Jackson County and watched as the 

population grew. He was instrumental in the 

Little Blue Valley Sewer District and the continued development of Eastern Jackson County. He believed in a Truman style of government of plain speaking and respect for his 

community. He will always be remembered as 

highly intelligent, a caring father, and advocate 

for his constituency. 

Madam Speaker, please join me in expressing our appreciation to the life and accomplishments of Joe Bolger, Jr. His legacy lives 

on in Jackson County as his work and dedication lead to the betterment of our community. 

I urge my colleagues of the 110th Congress to 

join me in remembering a great man from 

Eastern Jackson County. 

f 

HONORING NANCY HICKS 

MAYNARD 

HON. BARBARA LEE OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 

honor the extraordinary life and accomplishments of one of our nation’s greatest trailblazers. The renowned journalist and activist 

for truth in media, Nancy Hicks Maynard, 

passed away on September 21, 2008 at the 

age of 61. Her vivacious and extraordinary 

presence will be greatly missed, however her 

life’s work has ensured that future generations 

will continue to benefit from her courageous 

impact indefinitely. 

A news pioneer and the first African-American woman to own a major daily newspaper 

in America, Nancy Hicks Maynard was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her incredible 

journalism career began in 1966 when, outraged by inaccurate and destructive reporting 

on her neighborhood, Nancy broke onto the 

scene as a reporter for the New York Post at 

the age of 20. 

From there she went on to work at the New 

York Times. At that time she was the Times’ 

youngest staff reporter. However, that did not 

prevent Nancy from covering the hottest 

issues. From the Apollo space missions to African-American student takeovers at Columbia 

and Cornell universities, and the mid-sixties 

urban rebellions, Nancy was on the ground 

working nonstop to ensure that these stories 

were reaching the public not only through an 

objective lens, but from the viewpoint of a 

young person of color—something shamefully 

nonexistent in the media at that time. 


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