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Meeting with some of the new Members of Congress this week and doing some organizational work for the new Congress when I was given the sad news that a very good friend in Rhea County passed away on November 16th.
Gary Drinkard (far left in the photo) was a long time friend and supporter who was just a 100% genuine nice guy. He was always so supportive and never one to waver - regardless of the political climate. He loved his country and loved Tennessee, moving here after... being born and raised in Alabama and a distinguished work career in the oil business in Houston. He, along with his wife Mary, found a beautiful place in Spring City with a nice view of the lake to enjoy the retired life. He was an active participant in politics and loved being engaged locally to help candidates.
We always joke that there would not be a Texas without Tennesseans, and Gary knew it more than most. History was his passion and he sat on both the Harris County (TX) and the Rhea County (TN) Historical Commissions. He would work to identify and restore lost and overgrown cemeteries and would dig into the lost stories of the generations of families that shaped our communities.
Amy and I send our prayers to his wife, Mary, and his children and grandchildren. Every time I want to be frustrated at the seemingly constant toxic nature of politics, I am reminded that being involved in this business has allowed me the opportunity to meet and develop friendships with so many people like Gary - and for that I'll always be grateful.
Just got back to DC for votes this week and organizational meetings for the 117th Congress starting in January (again, thank you for the 223,941 votes to have me represent you again in 2021), but wanted to drop a couple of stories about our local TN-04 businesses in Rutherford County.
First of all, congratulations to everyone at Barrett for their successful development of another superior, groundbreaking weapon. Barrett is known all over the world for the .50 caliber Model 8...2A1, an American icon, the Tennessee state rifle, and noted as one of the greatest inventions by the US Army.
Barrett has another superior weapon with the MRAD MK22 - which will begin delivery to the US Special Operations Command starting in January of next year. It has undergone rigorous qualifications and operational training exercises since receiving the Defense Department contract and will be a flexible weapon capable of using multiple ammunitions. I've talked to many of our service members who speak of Barrett rifles in reverential tones, so I am confident this weapon will add to their reputation as a world leader in large caliber rifle design and manufacturing.
Our men and women in the field deserve the best, and Barrett will give it to them.
Also, a note of thanks to the show of support from the community for City Cafe in Murfreesboro. City Cafe, like so many other businesses, has been pushed to the brink by the slow downs in business with government ordered shutdowns and guidance that have made it so hard for people to go out and eat or to have the disposable income to have a meal.
City Cafe had announced their closure this weekend, but an out pouring of support by the community is allowing them the opportunity to try and stay in operation longer. It's a local institution - 120 years old - with a loyal customer base and some really good people who work there. Please do all that you can to go and keep these businesses open. In spite of the doom and gloom news, we need to keep doing all that we can to not live in fear and take the necessary and reasonable precautions to be safe while also keeping our economy afloat.
