May 24, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 1105

the Desert Empire Fair, and the Maturango

Museum. In addition, he has also served as

an elected trustee of the Trona Joint Unified

School District, and as a board member for

the Council on Substance Abuse Awareness

and the Searles Valley Community Service

Council. Jim is also a past member of the San

Bernardino County Air Pollution Control Advisory Council and a member of the Kern County Air Pollution Central District Hearing Board.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, Jim’s wife, Grace, and his family and

many friends in recognizing his many fine

achievements and selfless contributions. Over

the years, Jim Smith has touched the lives of

many people and it is only fitting that the

House of Representatives recognize him

today.

PATCHOGUE FIRE DEPARTMENT

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

fHON. MICHAEL P. FORBES OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

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

congratulate the Patchogue Fire Department

on 115 years of excellent service to the residents of the village of Patchogue and the East

Patchogue Fire Protection District. I would like

to extend my applause to the Southern New

York Volunteer Firemen’s Association on celebrating the 100th anniversary of their convention.

The Patchogue Fire Department has established a tradition as one of the oldest and finest fire departments in New York. The firemen

of Patchogue are among the best trained and

bravest fire fighters in New York as well.

These firemen regularly risk their lives to protect and serve the people of Patchogue. Upon

examining their impeccable service record, it

is no surprise that the Patchogue Fire Department has been protecting the village of

Patchogue so well for 115 years.

On Friday, June 9, 1995, the men and

women of the Patchogue Fire Department will

celebrate at the 100th Annual Convention of

the Southern New York Volunteer Firemen’s

Association. This association, which represents the volunteer and exempt firemen of

the nine southern counties, stands as evidence that New York does in fact have among

the best firemen in the Nation.

REMEMBERING A HERO, HUMBLE

fSERVANT

HON. HAROLD ROGERS OF KENTUCKY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, the Army Corps

of Engineers, our southern region and the nation lost a humble servant, war hero and good

friend when Mitchell ‘‘Stoney’’ Merriman died

last week from complications of an inoperable

brain tumor.

Originally from White County, Tennessee,

Stoney wrote the book on public relations—literally. A published author, newsman and writer, Stoney had such a creative and innovative

style that he wrote a how-to book for the

Corps that is used nationwide today.

Since 1987, he managed the Army Corps

Nashville District’s public information, media

relations and community relations program in

a 7-State area. I cannot think of anyone who

knew how to promote an event better.

In Corps events and groundbreakings in my

district, Stoney always amazed us with something new, creative and exciting. His style

blazed a trail for all to follow and his legacy

will be long remembered.

Stoney was more than just a top-notch public relations man. He was a veteran newsman,

and even more importantly, a war hero.

During his 23 years of service in the U.S.

Marine Corps, he served two combat tours in

Vietnam, where he served as a combat journalist. Among his awards were two Purple

Hearts, Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious

Service Medal, the Bronze Star with Combat

‘‘V’’ Medal and several other awards.

As a newsman, Stoney started in the military, but carried on his tradition of excellence

at the ‘‘The Smithville Review’’ and then as

publisher and editor of the ‘‘Carthage, TN

Courier.’’

I am proud of Stoney Merriman. He was

committed, honest and hard working in everything he did—whether it was a Corps event

placing his life in harm’s way to protect and

defend his country. He was a joy to be with,

and his service must always be remembered.

TRIBUTE TO JIM HENRY

fHON. JAMES M. TALENT OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

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

offer my congratulations to Jim Henry, a constituent of mine who was recently awarded the

Small Business Administration’s ‘‘1995 Small

Business Person of the Year’’ award for the

State of Missouri.

Ten years ago Mr. Henry left his job with

Emerson Electric and bought R.C. Wilson Co.,

a small collection agency in St. Louis, MO. At

the time Mr. Henry bought R.C. Wilson he had

no small business experience or background,

but he did have a can-do philosophy, which

has helped him build one of the most successful collection companies in our city. Over the

past 10 years, sales, employment, and clientele at R.C. Wilson have grown significantly.

Sales have increased by 200 percent, while

employment at R.C. Wilson have grown from

25 to 118. At the same time, his company’s

collection success rate is over 30 percent—

higher than the 22 percent average for the industry.

Mr. Henry explains his success this way:

‘‘The way a business owner treats employees

makes or breaks a business. The key to longterm success is to treat your employees with

dignity and always maintain the highest level

of integrity and honesty in all dealings.’’ This

attitude is reflected in the companies employee benefit policies. R.C. Wilson Co. has a

generous tuition reimbursement program

which enables many employees to continue

their education through post-graduate levels.

The company also provides an annual scholarship for Missouri Business Week to the child

of one employee. The company also shares

profits with its employees.

Mr. Speaker, I want to close by again offering Mr. Henry my congratulations on being

named the 1995 Missouri Small Business Person of the Year, and to wish him and the employees of R.C. Wilson Co. continued success.

HONORING VICE ADM. THOMAS J.

KILCLINE, USN RETIRED

f

HON. JAMES P. MORAN OF VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

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

pay tribute to Vice Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline,

USN [Retired] on the eve of his retirement

from his position as president of The Retired

Officers Association. Because of his many accomplishments, I consider it appropriate to formally recognize him for his more than 50

years of service to this Nation.

Admiral Kilcline was born in Detroit, MI, on

December 9, 1925. He enlisted in the U.S.

Navy in 1943, graduated from the U.S. Naval

Academy in 1949, and was designated a

naval aviator in November 1950 after which he

flew with VR–5 until 1953. Admiral Kilcline attended the Naval Postgraduate School and

later Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

where he earned a masters degree in aeronautical engineering in 1956.

He then joined Heavy Attack Squadron

Nine, serving on the Saratoga and Ranger. In

1959, he was assigned to the staff of the commander Sixth Fleet. He completed the command and staff course at the Naval War College and in 1962 completed test pilot school.

He was later assigned as coordinator of test

programs for all attack aircraft at the Naval Air

Test Center. In January 1965, Kilcline reported

to Heavy Attack Squadron Eleven [VAH–11]

aboard the Forestall. He commanded an

RA5C squadron deployed to the Vietnam theater. He returned to the staff of the commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in

August 1967, and a year later was assigned

as operations officer and later executive officer

aboard the U.S.S. Ticonderoga [CVA–14] during operations off Vietnam. He then became

program manager for acquisition and support

of the RA–5C aircraft, Naval Air Systems

Command. In October 1970, he was named

director of liaison with the House of Representatives under the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs.

From August 1972 until May 1974, Kilcline

was commanding officer, Naval Air Station,

Patuxent River, MD. He was then assigned as

director of aviation officer distribution, aviation

captain detailer and later, assistant chief of

Naval Personnel, Officer Distribution and Education. In August 1975, he assumed command

of Naval Base Subic Bay with duties as commander in chief Pacific representative in the

Philippines and commander U.S. Naval

Forces, Philippines. He became chief, Legislative Affairs in February 1978 and in July 1981,

was assigned as commander Naval Air

Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, He retired from the

Navy in 1983.

His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal; the Legion of Merit with three gold

stars; the Bronze Star; the Air Medal; and

awards from the governments of the Philippines and the Republic of Vietnam.

Following retirement, Admiral Kilcline formed

a military and congressional consulting firm