E2378 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 10, 2008 

public service. He gave his life to ensure that 

others could live without fear of violence or 

harm. For that, he is most certainly a hero for 

which this country is eternally grateful. 

Throughout his career, Special Agent Hicks 

exemplified the FBI’s motto of Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity by serving and protecting the 

citizens of the United States. As a former special agent, I know he will be sorely missed by 

all those with whom he served. 

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join 

me in honoring and celebrating the life of one 

of our Nation’s finest, Samuel K. Hicks, for his 

model service to United States law enforcement and his commitment to his country. He 

is truly deserving of America’s respect and admiration. 

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HONORING THE MEMORY OF 

JAMES WILLIAM McFARLAND 

HON. JO BONNER OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the state of 

Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise 

today to honor James William MCFarland and 

pay tribute to his memory. 

Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Bill graduated from Tuscaloosa High School and graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree 

from the University of Alabama in Commerce 

and Business Administration. He was named 

outstanding real estate graduate by the Alabama Association of Realtors. 

After graduation, Bill served as director of 

real estate for Winn Dixie Stores Incorporated 

in the Louisville, Kentucky division. In 1973, 

he returned to Tuscaloosa as vice president of 

Ward McFarland Incorporated, a real estate 

development and investment firm founded by 

his father, the Honorable Ward Wharton 

McFarland. 

In 1986, Bill was the Republican Nominee 

for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 

Seventh District of Alabama. The following 

year, former Governor Guy Hunt appointed Bill 

to his cabinet as commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Retardation. During his two years as commissioner, 

Bill was successful in pushing for the passage 

of a $1 million bond for mental health, the 

largest in state history. The bond issue enabled mental health facilities throughout Alabama to renovate their facilities and improve 

their quality of care. 

Bill was also a founding member of the 

Southern High-Speed Rail Commission, and 

he served numerous terms as chairman, vicechairman, and secretary/treasurer of the Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi Rapid Rail 

Transit Commission. Bill played a key role in 

inaugurating the Gulf Coast Limited Amtrak 

Service, which provided service to Alabama. 

Bill was also active in state politics. He 

served as chairman for three terms of the Tuscaloosa County Republican Executive Committee. He served as a member of the Alabama State Republican Executive Committee, 

including one term as seventh district vicechairman of the Alabama Republican Party. 

Bill was elected alternate delegate to the 1988 

Republican National Convention and was 

elected statewide as delegate to the 1992 Republican National Convention, at which President George H.W. Bush appointed him as a 

floor leader for the Southern Caucus. 

Bill was an officer in the United States 

Coast Guard Auxiliary. Alabama Governors 

George C. Wallace, Guy Hunt, and Jim Folsom Jr. each appointed Bill as Lieutenant 

Colonel Aide-de-Camp. He was also appointed by former U.S. Representative Jack 

Kemp as a member of the United States Congressional Advisory Board. Bill also worked 

with the Volunteers of America of Alabama, 

most recently serving as president. Bill served 

on the Shelton State Foundation, Friends of 

Bryce Hospital, as well as other leadership positions with various other community and civic 

organizations. 

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join 

me in remembering a dedicated community 

leader and friend to many throughout south 

Alabama. James William McFarland will be 

dearly missed by his family—his son, J.W. 

‘‘Billy’’ McFarland Jr. and his wife, Sarah; his 

daughter, Mimi McFarland Cawood and her 

husband, Joseph; his brother, Ward Morrow 

McFarland; and his nephew, Ward Weston 

McFarland—as well as the countless friends 

he leaves behind. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with them all 

during this difficult time. 

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TRIBUTE TO SUSAN FEISTNER 

HON. LEE TERRY OF NEBRASKA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise to 

honor the accomplishments of Susan Feistner. 

Susie recently celebrated 10 years of service 

in my Omaha Congressional Office. She is a 

dedicated servant to the Second Congressional District of Nebraska. She works hard 

and deserves accolades. 

Susan Feistner serves as my Assistant District Director and Senior Constituent Liaison in 

my Omaha Congressional Office. Susie handles immigration issues, and this is no small 

task. Over the years, she has muddled 

through mounds of paperwork to find solutions 

for people and in many cases has reunited 

families, helped with adoptions of foreign-born 

children and obtained last-minute visas and 

passports. She has also referred people to attorneys for help in becoming legal citizens, 

and she has helped many constituents navigate through the tangle of U.S. Immigration 

laws. Her tireless service has made a difference in thousands of lives. 

Over the years, Susie has also been active 

in Republican Party politics and has worked 

for candidates up and down and the ballot. 

Her involvement in our political process is 

much appreciated by me and the many others 

she has supported. She has also been a 

steadying hand in my District Office and has 

acted as Molly Lloyd’s deputy when needed. 

Her continuity has been a big plus for our 

staff. 

Susie, today I offer you a heartfelt thank 

you. Thank you for your dedication. I am extremely proud of your contributions over the 

past 10 years. I am blessed to have such a 

professional and hard working individual on 

my team. Without your help and guidance, I 

would not be where I am today. It is a privilege and an honor to have you on my staff 

Thank you again. 

HONORING THE MEMORY OF 

LAMBERT C. MIMS 

HON. JO BONNER OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of 

Mobile and the state of Alabama recently lost 

a dear friend, and I rise today to honor former 

Mayor Lambert C. Mims and pay tribute to his 

memory. 

With a public career spanning two decades, 

Mayor Mims’s tenure in office marked a period 

of significant growth for the city of Mobile, including the completion of the George C. Wallace tunnels and the Interstate 10 Bayway, the 

opening of the restored Fort Conde, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, and the first oil 

well in Mobile Bay. 

Born in the small farming town of Uriah in 

south Monroe County, Mayor Mims grew up 

on a cotton farm and was no stranger to hard 

work. He moved to Mobile at the age of 19 

and had called the city home ever since. In 

1965, he was elected to the Mobile City Commission, becoming the youngest commissioner 

in Mobile’s history. When first elected, he 

served as Public Works Commissioner. The 

commission rotated the title of mayor every 16 

months and, during his tenure as mayor and 

commissioner, he made public morality the 

foundation of his administration, including the 

passage of an anti-pornography regulation. 

After leaving office, then-Governor George 

C. Wallace appointed Mayor Mims as ambassador to the Alabama Waterways Development Agency. He later served as president of 

the American Public Works Association and 

the Alabama League of Municipalities. 

A long-time member and deacon at Riverside Baptist Church, Mayor Mims served as 

president of the Alabama Baptist Brotherhood, 

the Alabama Baptist State Convention, the 

Mobile Baptist Association, and the Masonic 

Breakfast Club. He was a member of the Azalea Masonic Lodge #898 F & AM, the Abba 

Temple Shrine, West Mobile Kiwanis Club, the 

CBMC and served as president of the Waterfront Rescue Mission Advisory Board. 

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join 

me in remembering a dedicated community 

leader and friend to many throughout south 

Alabama. Lambert C. Mims will be dearly 

missed by his family—his wife, Reecie; his 

sons, Dale P. Mims and L. Daniel Mims; his 

grandchildren, Lindsay C. Mims and Katie E. 

Mims; and his brother, Bibb Graves Mims—as 

well as the countless friends he leaves behind. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with them all 

during this difficult time. 

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CYPRUS 

HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today as a member of the House Committee 

on Foreign Affairs and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues to shed 

light on disheartening developments that have 

taken place recently off the coast of the Republic of Cyprus.