Recognizing Mr. Gerald Mixon

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to an exceptional community leader and outstanding citizen, Mr. Gerald Mixon, on his retirement as the Planning Director of the Middle Flint Area Planning and Development Corporation and the River Valley Regional Commission after 47 years of service. His retirement celebration was held on February 17, 2023 at the River Valley Regional Commission in Americus, Georgia.

For nearly five decades, Gerald has been a dedicated leader in the Middle and Southwest Georgia community, helping to bring much-needed resources and development opportunities to multiple counties in Georgia's Second District, including Dooly, Macon, Marion, Schley, Sumter, Taylor, and Webster counties. During his tenure, he has successfully applied for countless federal programs to spur community development projects in his community, and he has been instrumental in working with local government and the various federal departments and agencies to improve the quality of life for Georgians.

As the Planning Director for the Middle Flint Area Planning and Development Corporation and the River Valley Regional Commission, Gerald Mixon has become a vital resource to the dozens of local government officials and non-profit institutions that fall within his reach. His deep knowledge and experience of the grant-writing process and bottom-up community development has positioned him to serve as an essential lifeline for these community leaders who often seek technical assistance and sound advice as they work to improve their communities and neighborhoods. His service in this regard served the community tremendously as local officials are often tasked with working together to implement region-wide projects under the Community Development Block Grant, including in transportation and infrastructure, housing, and anti-poverty programs.

Gerald has built an impressive career in his lifetime, planning and overseeing the successful completion of countless community development projects, including leading the efforts to implement numerous comprehensive plans for efficient and sustainable solid waste management in the Middle Flint and River Valley Regions. Amid frequent destructive tornadoes, hurricanes, and other severe weather-related incidents, Gerald authored eight pre-disaster plans for counties and cities across the region to help mitigate damage and the need for costly repairs following disasters. And he modernized his region's public safety apparatus by conceptualizing and organizing a seven- county Enhanced 911 center covering the largest service area in Georgia that went on to become the Middle Flint E-911 system, which is still in operation today.

Gerald has accomplished much throughout his life, but none of this would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and support of his wife, Diane, and his three children, Heather, Stuart and David.

Sir Winston Churchill often said: ``You make your living by what you get; you make your life by what you give.'' The Middle and Southwest Georgia region is a better place today because Gerald Mixon gave so much to so many for so long to make our communities stronger, better place to live. As a man of tremendous work ethic, organizational talent, vision, and tact, his life's work has helped create prosperity and opportunities in Georgia that many may have once not thought possible.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Gerald Mixon upon the occasion of his retirement from an outstanding career of service to his beloved community.

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