Date: 1982-12-17
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. JIM COLLINS has achieved much in life. and even by Texas standards. he is a huge success. But one of his great accomplishments is one that he had nothing to do with: it was his birth in Hallsville. Tex. Not only Is Hallsville my ancestral home. but it is located in the First Congressional District of Texas. So whether Jim likes it or not. I still consider him a constituent. Now that he has decided to return to Texas he is entitled to contact his Congress. man on the critical issues of our times. Knowing JIM CoLLINs as we all do. I have no doubt that he will be just as active in this regard as he has been on the House floor for the past 15 years. It is hard to imagine this body without JIM COLLINS. and it is going to take some getting used to when we return in January. He has been my friend for a long time. and for the past 6V2 years here in the House we have established a rapport and mutual respect of the most endearing and lasting quality imaginable. On our concern for America we have no differences. Regardless of how one views JIM COLLINS philosophy of government. there is absolutely no doubt about his sincere and abiding love of country. His devotion to freedom goes back to bis roots in east Texas. It was nurtured in his strong work ethic and success as a businessman. It. was proven in his outstanding combat record from the day he stepped ashore during the Normandy invasion to the cessation of hostilities in Germany. It has been demonstrated over and over in his standsoften lonely standsin this body. JIM COLLINs never shirks from duty. I think that Gen. Robert E. Lee had men in mind like Jim CoL.LNs when he responded to a question about the most important word in the English language. General Lee is said to have replied: "The most sublime word in the language is duty." Jim served as an engineer in World War II. and his sense of honor and duty aptly fit that description of the . engineers that "when the going gets rough. the rough get going." JIM COLLINS often fights the lonely battle. Many times he has taken this floor to fight big Government and challenge an evergrowing bureaucracy when others were not willing to do so. because the issue at hand had momentary political appeal. He does not relish being in a minority status on so many issues. but as Henry Clay once said. "I would rather be right than be President." JIM COLLINS fights for principle. and if the fight runs contrary to a popular view. or even the general view of his own party. he puts on the gloves. This fall JIM COLLINS went forth to do battle. as he has so often in the past. against overwhelming odds and lost. He ran a tough. hard campaign against a popular encumbant. But here again. JIM COLLINs showed the courage of his convictions. Itwas not his time. Like the Man of LaMancha. it was an impossible dream. This Congress will always need people of the independent. forthright character of JiM COLLINs. He is no conformist. He speaks his mind as men spoke their mind in Philadelphia over 200 years ago. and in the process gave us a nation. Some call him a gadfly. They called Patrick Henry a gadfly. too. We owe our destiny. our success as a nation to such gadflies. and thank goodness for them. To JIM. his lovely wife Dee. and their children. I can only say that it has been the greatest honor for me to have served with Jim COLLINS. Texas and the Nation is a better place for his having served here for the past 14 years. I welcome our continued friendship. and. JIM. east Texas welcomes you anytime.e