HONORING THOMAS ELRED BRADFORD

Quick facts

Record: House Floor
Section type: Recognition
Chamber: House
Date: April 20, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the House floor portion of the record.

Readable version of the official text

Mr. PALMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Thomas Elred Bradford, a man who truly embodied servant leadership.

A Birmingham native and graduate of Ramsay High School, Tom served in

the United States Air Force after college before joining his family business.

After a successful career in business, instead of retiring, Tom

founded the National Christian Foundation of Alabama.

Tom was deeply committed to his faith and community, serving as an

elder at Briarwood Presbyterian Church and in leadership roles in numerous civic, charitable, and Christ-centered organizations across Birmingham.

Most importantly, he was a devoted husband to Mary Anne and a loving

father.

Tom was always searching for ways to invest in those around him, and

I was fortunate enough to benefit from his mentorship. Tom gave me my first job in Birmingham, and years later when I came to him with the idea to start a profamily think tank, he agreed to serve as the founding board chairman of the Alabama Family Alliance, which later became the Alabama Policy Institute.