Tribute to Jimmie Dee

TRIBUTE TO JIMMIE DEE -- (Extensions of Remarks - November 18, 2004)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker today I rise in tribute to a man with a distinguished public service career. Throughout the course of his career, Jimmie Yee has served the people of Sacramento with great success and distinction. Jimmie will soon retire from his post as the Councilman from the 4th District of the Sacramento City Council. It is my honor to ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting Jimmie Yee, a man who has worked hard to make Sacramento a better place for everyone.

A native of Sacramento, Jimmie was born in 1934. He attended Lincoln Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and Sacramento High School. Jimmie attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. Jimmie holds registrations as both a California Structural Engineer and Civil Engineer. In 1957, he joined the US Army Corps of Engineers and was honorably discharged after he achieved the rank of Captain in 1965.

Jimmie began his professional career in civil service with CALTRANS and the State Department of Water Resources between 1956 and 1959. In 1966, Jimmie entered the private sector when he started his own engineering practice. During a quarter century of involvement, Cole, Yee, Schubert and Associates became one of the largest consulting engineering firms in the Sacramento Region. The firm provided design services for many trademark buildings in Sacramento, including the original Convention Center, Suffer General and Suffer Memorial Hospitals, and ARCO Arena.

In 1992, Jimmie was elected to a four-year term on the Sacramento City Council. Jimmie was subsequently reelected to the seat in 1996 and 2000. Jimmie truly showed his mark as a great leader when Late Mayor Joe Serna passed away in the fall of 1999. Jimmie admirably answered the call to service by serving as Mayor for the reminder of Mayor Serna's term. Jimmie's leadership and ability to unite had a great steadying influence during this tumultuous period. The people of Sacramento owe you a debt of gratitude for your service.

Long before he joined City Council in 1992, Jimmie was already an important leader in our community. Jimmie has long been one of the most ardent supporters of the Sacramento Chinese Drum and Bugle Corps. Until today, Jimmie remains an active member of the Sacramento Optimist Club and the Chinese American Council of Sacramento. In 1989, Jimmie organized the first Asian bone marrow drive in the United States when he registered more than 2,500 people. It's a testament to Jimmie's influence as a community leader that many of his wonderful contributions before he held elected office are still being felt today.

A devoted family, Jimmie has been married to his wife, Mary, for fifty years. Together, they raised four daughters and two sons, all of whom are college graduates with professional credentials. Today, Jimmie and Mary are the proud grandparents of fifteen grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, as Jimmie Yee embarks on an exciting new chapter of his life, I am honored to pay tribute to a great champion of the City of Sacramento. The people of Sacramento have benefited greatly from Jimmie's leadership and we all owe him a debt of gratitude. I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing Jimmie continued success in all of his future endeavors, wherever retirement may lead him.