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“IN RECOGNITION OF JIM RATHBONE” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E161 on Feb. 5, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF JIM RATHBONE
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HON. FRANK RIGGS
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 5, 1997
Mr. RIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jim Rathbone.
For over 44 years Jim worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in California. For the last 25 years, he has been the Program Director of Rural Housing Service based in Woodland, CA. In this job he has been responsible for the 502 Mutual Self-Help Home Ownership Program for California.
Jim was born and raised in Sonoma County and has a close tie to the north coast. Many of my constituents who have built their houses through the self-help housing effort in California have benefited from his work and labor. Hundreds of lower income families have become homeowners in California thanks to his efforts in making this program work. For many, realizing their dream of home ownership has changed their lives forever.
Jim did not overlook the importance of his position or isolate himself from the daily issues of his work. He has always been available and accessible to those with whom he worked in the rural communities throughout California. He was always responsive to individual situations--willing to listen and constantly trying to make the program work for families who do the work.
His dedication and committed service is best exemplified by his work ethic. I am told that you could find Jim's car outside his office from sunup past sundown, often working well into the evening.
Those of us concerned about the availability of affordable housing and home ownership for working families owe an enormous debt of gratitude to this man. He has surely helped a large number of families to participate in the self-help program and become homeowners. Jim's life-long work clearly demonstrates the importance of public service to our society. It also is a statement of how one person's work can make such a positive impact on so many others.
Thank you, Jim, for a lifetime of devoted service to the north coast and rural Californians.
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