The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING MR. TOM WALKER
______
ROBERT B. ADERHOLT
of alabama
in the house of representatives
Friday, March 11, 2022
Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize and congratulate Mr. Tom Walker, founder and president of the American Village in Montevallo, Alabama, on his retirement after almost 35 years as an educator, civic leader and inspiration to children and adults alike across the southeast and the nation.
In the late 1980's, Tom conceived the idea of the American Village to be an American history and civics educational campus to inspire and prepare young people for their roles as citizens and leaders. Under Tom's leadership, American Village, an 188-acre campus in Montevallo, Alabama, became chartered in 1995 and has since educated and inspired over 750,000 children as well as adults across the southeastern United States. American Village has welcomed thousands of public visitors each year for a true American Experience.
Before founding American Village, Tom earned his bachelor's degree, with honors, in history and political science from the University of Montevallo and his master's degree in political science from Mississippi State University.
Tom Walker is the former City Manager of Northport, Alabama, and served as the Special Assistant to the President of the University of Montevallo. He is also the former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at the University of Montevallo and was the founding chair of the AL Higher Education Partnership.
Since founding the American Village, Tom has received numerous awards and honors. In 2017, he was one of only sixteen private citizens appointed to the Semiquincentennial Commission to organize the 250th birthday celebration of the United States of America. In December of 2020, Tom was conferred the Honorary Doctor of Laws by Troy University. He is a past recipient of the American Bar Association's highest national award for excellence in K-12 law-related education. He is the recipient of the DAR Medal of Honor and the SAR Gold Citizenship Medal, the highest national honors awarded by the National Societies of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and of the Sons of the American Revolution, respectively. He has received numerous other state, regional and national awards and was named as Birmingham Citizen of the Year by The Women's Committee of Birmingham in 2014.
Tom once said, We must build good citizens and leaders who will cherish these ideals, and thereby learn to love our country, and what an incredible job of that he has done these past 35 years working with the students of the southeast.
Upon his retirement, Tom looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Betty, three children: his son, Matt and wife Candace; his daughter, Jane Herndon and her husband Josh; and his son Jefferson, along with his grandson, Wells Thomas Herndon. He will continue to maintain an office and an active part-time Founder and Director-
Emeritus position at the American Village, as he continues to prepare the nation's youth to become leaders.
Since my own appointment to the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, I have had the honor to serve alongside Tom. I have grown to admire and respect his great love for American history, his solid values and his strong faith in God, which are the foundations that have made this nation great. It has been a privilege to work with him on this commission, but more importantly to call him my friend. I look forward to his continued service in that role.
As a community leader, educator, and friend, Tom Walker has touched the lives of countless Americans, including myself. Therefore, I ask you to join with me in congratulating Tom Walker on an inspirational 35 years of work and service to Montevallo, the State of Alabama, and the United States of America.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 44
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up