Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jim Braden, pictured here with his granddaughter Cates. Jim is a native of Ripley, West Virginia, who is being honored on April 30 for his significant accomplishments and contributions to the coaching of young men and women for over 52 years in Tennessee and West Virginia. Jim Braden's roots in Jackson County, West Virginia, baseball began with his father, Ed Braden. Ed Braden was a member of the Sandy Valley baseball club in the 1940s, which received numerous county pennants that earned them the right to play in the Little World Series. Ed built houses to accommodate the influx of people relocating to work at the new Kaiser Aluminum plant in the 1960s. He also founded Braden Plumbing and Heating in Ripley and was responsible for installing the first bathrooms in many Jackson County homes. Throughout the years, Ed was a staple at Ripley High School baseball and other athletic events. While at Ripley High School, Jim Braden was in a car accident that cut his baseball career short. Once he recovered from the accident, Jim, still a high school student in Ripley, West Virginia, started coaching youth sports teams. After a brief period at Glenville State College, Jim Braden proudly served our country for years in the Vietnam war as a part of a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron. Upon returning to the United States, he took employment as a teacher at Roane-Jackson Technical Center.…”